Engineering for the Marine Environment

Interactions between man-made structures and the sea
Engineering for the Marine Environment
Our engineering expertise covers a broad array of research on man-made structures and devices that are deployed in marine and coastal settings:

COAST Engineering Research Group

The COAST group is focused firmly on major problems facing society regarding rising sea levels, flood risk, and marine renewable energy which have been highlighted in recent government reviews. COAST contains internationally recognised specialists in: 

  • coastal engineering
  • renewable energy
  • flood risk and coastal protection
  • field experimentation
  • instrument design and laboratory modelling
  • numerical modelling 
  • theoretical analysis.

Marine Renewable Energy 

The University is a leader in marine renewable energy research. 

The COAST Engineering Research Group has particular strengths in physical and numerical modelling of marine renewable energy devices, supported by our state the art COAST Lab facilities. 

The University is also a key partner in the Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE).

Autonomous Marine Systems

The Autonomous Marine Systems (AMS) research group comprises a multidisciplinary team working on the application of AI techniques to the navigation, guidance and control of autonomous vehicles, wave energy devices and marine propulsion systems. The group has expertise in a number of areas:

  • artificial intelligence (AI) 
  • optimisation techniques 
  • advanced control systems engineering theory
  • multi-sensor data fusion, dynamics, industrial dynamics
  • marine vehicle performance prediction
  • propulsors
  • integrated navigation systems.

Springer, an autonomous surface vehicle

Marine Composites

The Advanced Composites Manufacturing Centre (ACMC) is a leading composites R&D facility at the Plymouth University. The group has a particular strength in composites for the marine environment, although their work has a wide range of applications. The ACMC works closely with all members of the composites industry in implementing new technology, improving processes, testing materials and components and solving manufacturing and materials problems.

Materials and Structures Research Group

The research carried out in this area covers many aspects of mechanics in materials and structures. 

This includes structural integrity focusing on fatigue and fracture of materials, durability of marine reinforced concrete (RC) structures, multi-scale and multi-phase modeling of materials, and structural modeling using finite element analysis.

Engineering and Society Research Group

Research in this group focuses on the interaction between engineering, society and the environment. Our current work is focused on both the impact of engineering solutions on society and the impact of society on the success of engineering solutions, exploring the following themes:

  • Marine science and engineering education
  • Industry engagement with marine science and engineering research
  • Gender, equality and hazard issues in marine science and engineering
  • Marine science and engineering philosophy.

Engineering for the marine environment staff