PhD Scholarship in Earthquake-Induced Pressure Surges in Hydropower Systems
Start Date: Immediate | End Date: Mid-2026
A fully funded PhD opportunity is available in collaboration with Re-Generate NZ, a Christchurch-based specialist consultancy in energy and water solutions. The project addresses a critical challenge in New Zealand鈥檚 hydropower sector: understanding and mitigating earthquake-induced pressure surges in penstocks and pressure tunnels.
These transient surges鈥攕imilar to the water hammer effect鈥攑ose a risk of structural failure during seismic events. The goal of this research is to improve design guidelines and contribute to national hydropower resilience.
Project Scope:
- Develop a theoretical framework for pressure wave generation in seismically excited pipe systems.
- Use Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to model transient flow behaviour under realistic seismic conditions.
- Validate and implement models with Re-Generate鈥檚 design group to inform both hydropower infrastructure upgrades and national design codes.
What We Offer:
- A unique opportunity to work at the interface of academic research and engineering practice.
- Access to real-world project data and advanced simulation tools.
- Training in high-performance computing and seismic resilience design.
This project is ideal for candidates with strong skills in fluid mechanics, numerical modelling, or earthquake engineering, and a desire to contribute to nationally significant infrastructure.
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Supervisors
First Supervisor:
Second Supervisor:听
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Key qualifications and skills
- Bachelor鈥檚 (Hons) or Master鈥檚 degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, or a closely related discipline.
- Strong foundation in fluid mechanics and hydraulics, especially unsteady/transient flow.
- Familiarity with computational modelling and numerical simulation methods.
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Does the project come with funding
UC Connect Doctoral Scholarship - stipend and tuition fees are covered
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How to apply
Applications must be made through the UC Scholarships portal here:听
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Final date for receiving applications
30 September 2025
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Keywords
Engineering; Fluid dynamics; Computational; numerical; Civil Engineering; mechanical engineering; hydro power; CFD; Computational Fluid Dynamics
