Professor
G. X. Wu
Professor in Marine Research Group (MRG)
Dept of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, University College London (UCL)
Professor
G. X. Wu
Professor in Marine Research Group (MRG)
Dept of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, University College London (UCL)
Obtained BSc from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, and Msc and PhD from Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London in the same area.
2000-present Professor, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, UCL.
1997-2000 Reader, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, UCL.
1992-1997 Lecturer, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, UCL.
1987-1992 Research Fellow, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, UCL.
Royal Society Industry Fellow hosted by WS Atkins (1997-1999).
Chair of Lloyd's Registry Foundation (LRF) Joint Research Centre on Deep Water Centre, led by UCL, involving Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Harbin Engineering University, supported by over a dozen of professors and many dozens of postgraduate students.
Member of Technical Committee of Lloyd's Registry.
Served as a visiting professor at many distinguished institutions, including National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Naval architecture,
Coastal, offshore & deep-water engineering,
Renewable energy,
Polar engineering,
Liquid sloshing,
High speed fluid/structure impact, including water entry and slamming,
Nonlinear water waves,
Fluid-structure interaction,
Large-amplitude motions of floating ocean structures,
Vortex induced vibration,
Finite element method (FEM),
Finite volume method (FVM),
Finite difference method (FDM),
Boundary element method (BEM),
lattice Boltzmann method (LBM).
Link to UCL IRIS
Professor Wu has been the chair of the joint research centre on deep-water challenges, involving UCL, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Harbin Engineering University. The centre has trained many dozens of PhD and MSc students supervised by over a dozen professors, and has been supported by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation which owns the commercial company Lloyd's Register (LR), one of leading classification societies in the world. The research covers a wide range of topics in naval architecture, ocean engineering and polar engineering. In addition to the cutting-edge research on some fundamental and challenging problems in engineering, the focus has been on applying the research to improve design, protect the environment, enhance safety and reduce cost. One of the applications was to optimisation of the structural design of a ship built at the end of 2016 by Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd., based on the newest rules of the International Association of Classification Societies, whose members include LR.
The novel trimaran concept was pioneered at UCL in the 1990s. Professor Wu developed methods and codes for its simulation in collaboration with QinetiQ. His research with QinetiQ has also been used to improve the manoeuvrability and controllability of underwater vehicles at periscope depth.
Professor Wu has published extensively in JFM and Royal Society. Some of his publications in Physics of Fluids have been chosen as "Best Papers" of the journal or recommended as "Editors' Pick".
Many of novel methods developed by Professor Wu and the results obtained have made a major impact in industry.
An example is the development of the commercial code Hydro-Star by Bureau Veritas. The author of that code stated (23rd Symposium on Naval Hydrodynamics) "…the author is greatly indebted to Professor Wu Guo Xiong … for providing comprehensive data … which have been critically useful in the development of computer codes."
The research output was also used in the development and verification of the computer code by the American Bureau of Shipping (JSR, Vol. 51).
Professor Wu has also been recognized as a pioneer in applying the finite element to nonlinear hydrodynamic problems, for example in work by authors from Denmark, Sweden as well as MIT in the USA (JCP, Vol. 318) who stated that "The use of FEM for fully nonlinear water waves was pioneered by Wu & Eatock Taylor (1994)."
More recently, Professor Wu has led a collaboration on polar engineering. Several novel methods and a commercial computer code have been developed to assess the hydrodynamic performance of a ship in the ocean covered by ice sheets (JFM, 2020, Vol.886; JCP, 2020, Vol.412), which have been used by shipyards.
The research is supported by funding mainly through Lloyd's Registry Foundation (LRF), EPSRC with marine and oil companies (as the principal investigator of around 10 projects), EU, Royal Society, Leverhulme Trust, QinetiQ, Office of Naval Research, Qatar National Research Fund and others.
Extended Lighthill’s method for other second order results (AOR 1990 & 1991a), discovered the limitation of Timman-Newman relationship (Int. Shipbuilding Progress 1988), discovered some identities for added mass and damping coefficients of a high-speed boat (Int. Shipbuilding Progress 1988) and a low-speed ship (JFM 1990) as well as for wave diffraction coefficients (AOR 1993), developed a method to decouple nonlinear mutual dependence between the hydrodynamic force and body acceleration (OE 2003).
Pioneered application of finite element method to nonlinear water wave and floating body problem (AOR 1994), Developed a method for calculating higher order derivatives (AOR 1991b) which had been a major difficulty for prediction of motion of the ship advancing in waves, developed a mixed finite element method to the free surface flow problem (AOR 1994), developed a domain decomposition technique water wave problem (OE 1995), developed a Taylor expansion based high order finite volume method (IJNMF 2008).
Resolved a paradox in equations for impact force during water entry (JFS 1998), discovered discontinuity in pressure during jet/structure impact (JFS 2001), developed stretched coordinate method (JFS 2004), developed 3D boundary element method procedure for water entry (JFS 2013), obtained self-similar solution for water entry of a body with curvature (JFM 2014, 2019), developed coupled method for water entry with vortex shedding (JFM 2018), developed a method for predicting free VIV motion of an unrestrained cylinder from the result of a restrained cylinder (PoF 2018) .
Derived a series of analytic solutions for a variety of free surface flow problems with many of them being the first ones of their kind, wave diffraction and radiation by a spheroid (JFM 1987, JSR 1989), a sphere advancing in waves with forward speed (Proc. Royal Society 1988), a sphere moving in a circular path (Proc. Royal Society 1990), second order wave radiation and diffraction by a circular cylinder (J. Hydrodynamics 1990a, AOR 1990 & 1991a), a circular cylinder moving near an interface (J. Hydrodynamics 1990b), a circular cylinder in large amplitude motion (JFM 1993), a sphere in large amplitude motion near the free surface (JSR 1994), wave radiation and diffraction by a sphere in finite water depth (AOR 1994), radiation and diffraction of by a sphere moving with forward speed in waves of finite depth (Proc. Royal Society 1995), a group of sphere (AOR 1995, JSR 1996), sphere moving in a channel (JSR 1998), wave radiation and diffraction by sphere in a channel (QJMAM 1998) which is commented by Fritz Ursell as ‘a most rewarding collaboration’, viscous effects on sloshing waves in a tank (JEM 2001), second order resonant sloshing (OE 2007), a variety of problems related to arctic engineering (JFM 2018, 2020a, 2020b,2021a, 2021b).
Reference list:
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1990. Second order diffraction forces on horizontal cylinders in finite water depth. Appl. Ocean Res., 12, 106-111.
Wu, G.X., 1991a. On the second order wave reflection and transmission by a horizontal cylinder. Appl. Ocean Res., 13, 58-62.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1988. Reciprocity relations for hydrodynamic coefficients of bodies with forward speed. Int. Shipbuilding Progress, 35, 145-153.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1990. The hydrodynamic forces on an oscillating ship with low forward speed. J. Fluid Mech., 211, 333-353.
Wu, G.X., 1993. A relation between wave reflection and transmission by a submerged body at forward speed. Appl. Ocean Res., 15, 311-313.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 2003. The coupled finite element and boundary element analysis of nonlinear interactions between waves and bodies. Ocean Eng., 30, 387-400.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1994. Finite element analysis of two-dimensional non-linear transient water waves. Appl. Ocean Res., 16, 363-372.
Wu, G.X., 1991b. A numerical scheme for calculating the mj terms in wave-current-body interaction problem. Appl. Ocean Res., 13, 317-319.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1995. Time stepping solutions of the two-dimensional non-linear wave radiation problem. Ocean Eng., 22, 785-798.
Wu, G.X. and Hu Z.Z., 2008. A Taylor series based finite volume method the Navier-Stokes equations. Int. J. Nume. Meth. in Fluids, 58, 1299-1325.
Wu, G.X., 1998. Hydrodynamic force on a rigid body during impact with liquid. J. Fluids and Structures, 12, 549-559.
Wu, G.X., 2001. Initial pressure distribution due to jet impact on a rigid body. Journal of fluids and structures, 15(2), pp.365-370.
Wu, G.X., Sun, H and He, Y.S., 2004. Numerical simulation and experimental study of water entry of a wedge in free fall motion. J. Fluids & Structure, 19, 277-289.
Sun, S.L. and Wu, G.X., 2013. Oblique water entry of a cone by a fully three-dimensional nonlinear method. J. Fluids & Structures, 42, 313-332.
Wu, G.X. and Sun, S.L., 2014. Similarity solution for oblique water entry of an expanding paraboloid. J. Fluid Mech., 745, 398-408.
Semenov, Y.A. and Wu, G.X., 2019. Water entry of an expanding body with and without splash. J. Fluid Mech., 862, 924-950.
Semenov, Y.A. and Wu, G.X., 2018. Water entry of a wedge with rolled-up vortex sheet. J. Fluid Mech., 835, 512-539.
Jiao, H. and Wu, G.X., 2018. Free vibration predicted using forced oscillation in the lock-in region. Physics of Fluids, 30, 113601.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1987. The exciting force on a submerged spheroid in regular waves. J. Fluid Mech., 182, 411-426.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1989. On the radiation and diffraction of surface waves by submerged spheroids. J. Ship Res., 33, 84-92.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1988. Radiation and diffraction of water waves by a submerged sphere at forward speed. Proc. Roy. Soc. London, A417, 433-461.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1990. The hydrodynamic forces on a submerged sphere moving in a circular path. Proc. Roy. Soc. London, A428, 215-227.
Wu, G.X. and Eatock Taylor, R., 1990a. Second order diffraction forces on horizontal cylinders. J. of Hydrodynamics, 1, 55-65.
Wu, G.X., 1990b. Hydrodynamic forces on a submerged cylinder in stratified fluid. J. of Hydrodynamics, 2, 52-58.
Wu, G.X., 1993. Hydrodynamic forces on a submerged circular cylinder undergoing large amplitude motion. J. Fluid Mech., 254, 41-58.
Wu, G.X., 1994. Hydrodynamic forces on a submerged sphere undergoing large amplitude motion. J. Ship Res., 38, 272-277.
Wu, G.X., Witz, J.A., Ma, Q. and Brown, D.T., 1994. Analysis of wave-induced drift forces acting on a submerged sphere in finite water depth. Appl. Ocean Res., 16, 353-361.
Wu, G.X., 1995. Radiation and diffraction by a submerged sphere advancing in water waves of finite depth. Pro. Roy. Soc. London, A488, 29-54.
Wu, G.X., 1995. The interaction of water waves with a group of submerged spheres. Appl. Ocean Res., 17, 165-184.
Wu, G.X., 1996. Wavemaking resistance on a group of submerged spheres. J. Ship Res., 40, 1-10
Wu, G.X., 1998. Wavemaking resistance on a submerged sphere in a channel. J. Ship Res., 42, 1-8.
Wu, G.X., 1998. Wave radiation and diffraction by a submerged sphere in a channel. Quat. J. of Mech. and Appl. Math., 51, 648-666.
Wu, G.X., Eatock Taylor, R and Greaves, D.M., 2001. Viscous effect on the transient free surface flow in a two-dimensional tank. J. Eng. Math., 40, 77-90.
Wu, G.X., 2007. Second order resonance of sloshing in a tank. Ocean Eng., 34, 2345-2349.
Li, Z.F., Wu, G.X., Ji, C.Y., 2018. Wave radiation and diffraction by a circular cylinder submerged below an ice sheet with a crack. J. Fluid Mech., 845, 682-712.
Ren, K., Wu, G.X., LI, Z.F., 2020. Hydroelastic waves propagating in an ice-covered channel” Free-surface gravity flow due to a submerged body in a uniform. J. Fluid Mech., 886, A18-1.
Li, Z.F., Wu, G.X. and Ren, K., 2020. Wave diffraction by multiple arbitrary shaped cracks in an infinitely extended ice sheet of finite water depth. J. Fluid Mech., 893.
Li, Z.F., Wu, G.X. and Ren, K., 2021. Interactions of waves with a body floating in an open water channel confined by two semi-infinite ice sheets. J. Fluid Mech., 917.
Yang, Y.F., Wu, G.X. and Ren, K., 2021. Three-dimensional interaction between uniform current and a submerged horizontal cylinder in an ice-covered channel. J. Fluid Mech., 928.
The LRF Centre was established in November 2010 bringing together as partners University College London (UCL), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Harbin Engineering University (HEU). It combines the extensive experience and expertise of the UK through the development of North Sea and China’s outstanding research infrastructure, large manufacturing base and potential for deep water development. UCL is one of the world’s leading universities, whilst SJTU and HEU are amongst the largest and best institutions in the world for ocean engineering.
The Centre has built a world-class research team. The excellence of this team is evidenced by a large number of publications in high-quality international journals. This includes papers in the most respected publications in this field in the world, such as Journal of Fluid Mechanics and the Proceedings of the Royal Society. The research outcomes of the Centre have had, and continue to have, major impact on the academic and industry communities. This is reflected by several large follow up grants from research foundations and industries, software and technologies being extensively used in engineering practices.
Some examples of research projects:
(1) numerical Investigation of Wave Run-up around a 3D Truncated Vertical Cylinder
(2) interaction of nonlinear water wave with varying sea-bed
(3) nonlinear interactions between waves and current
(4) wave loads and motion of a platform
(5) deep water rod dynamics with large extending properties
(6) coupling of high oscillatory and large amplitude slowly varying motions of a floating body
(7) interaction between floating bodies during floatover installation
(8) fluid/structure interaction with bubble effects
(9) propagation of internal waves
(10) coupled VIV of flexible slender bodies
(11) multi-degree vortex-included movement of the buoyancy can
(12) air gap between a semisubmersible and wave elevation
(13) green water on the deck
(14) green water loads on FPSO
(15) VIV suppression
(16) Numerical and experimental hydrodynamic analysis for multi-body systems
(17) Investigation on the hydrodynamics of FLNG and the effects of inner-tank sloshing on global response of the hull
(18) Interactions of internal waves and bodies near the interface of two fluids
(19) wave/ice/floating body interactions.