Project assistant in subsea cable mechanics and mooring fatigue design

Project Assistant In Subsea Cable Mechanics And Mooring Fatigue Design

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At the Department of Mechanical Engineering, we unite the power of technology, people, and society to drive the transition toward a sustainable future. Through research, education, and collaboration, we create solutions that connect materials to mobility, ideas to impact – shaping a resilient and sustainable world. We make impact.

The Division of Marine Technology develops knowledge and solutions for the sustainable maritime systems of the future and a fossil-free society. Through interdisciplinary research, we contribute to energy-efficient and safe marine systems with reduced negative environmental impact – from ships and underwater vehicles to offshore structures and renewable ocean energy.

Renewable ocean energy is a vital component of the global transition towards fossil-free energy production and a key contributor to a sustainable future. Technologies such as floating offshore wind, wave energy converters, and floating photovoltaic systems are rapidly advancing and being deployed in offshore environments.

The project assistant will contribute to three ongoing research projects within the Division of Marine Technology. These projects are conducted in close collaboration with industrial partners specialising in the development of umbilical cables, mooring systems, and installation solutions for floating renewable energy devices.

Two of the projects focus on the structural integrity of highly dynamic power cables. A central challenge is to design cables that can withstand complex mechanical loading while ensuring reliable power transmission over extended service lifetimes, without the need for maintenance or replacement.

The third project centres on the development of an advanced lifetime engineering simulation framework, integrating lifecycle assessment (LCA), lifecycle cost (LCC), and lifecycle performance (LCP). As the LCP module is currently under development, the project assistant will play a key role in its completion. This work will include the modelling of fatigue behaviour of mooring systems for floating offshore wind applications, as well as extending the framework to incorporate power cable performance.

Join us in shaping the future of renewable ocean energy — we're seeking a passionate and talented colleague ready to make an impact.

The following requirements are mandatory:

• A master's or a doctoral degree in Naval Architecture, Ocean Engineering, Marine Technology, Applied Mechanics, or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Good programming skills in Python and in Matlab.
• Experience in using DNV's software package Sesam GeniE and the Sesam softwares DeepC, HydroD, and SIMA.
• Experience in using ABAQUS FE software package.
• Experience in stress-based fatigue analysis.
• Personal competences in accordance with the requirements profile, including specification (e.g. social skills, meaning that you enjoy collaborating with others).

The following experience will strengthen your application:

• It is highly meritorious if the doctoral degree has been obtained within the last year prior to the Final date to receive applications.
• Verified experience from leading projects and presenting at large international conferences.

What you will do

• Carry out numerical simulations using SESAM software to analyse the fully coupled hydro-mechanical response of power cables under various sea states, installation conditions, and other parameters evaluated through scenario-based studies in collaboration with industry partners.
• Perform thermo-mechanical assessments of power cables to quantify how structural integrity is influenced by different power transmission rates.
• Enhance existing finite element models and conduct stress-based and fretting fatigue analyses, using cable motion characteristics obtained from SESAM simulations.
• Complete the lifecycle performance (LCP) module within the lifetime engineering framework, with a primary focus on mooring systems…