Research in the Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory

Explore some of the research taking place in the COAST lab
Researchers in the COAST Lab
The Coastal, Ocean and Sediment Transport (COAST) laboratory provides physical model testing with combined waves, currents and wind, offered at scales appropriate for device testing, array testing, environmental modelling and coastal engineering. 
The facility is closely aligned with the COAST Engineering Research Group.

Our research

Floating offshore wind research

The Physical modelling of floating offshore wind turbines is challenging due to the complexities associated with the simultaneous application of two different scaling laws, governing the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic loading on the structure. 
Within the COAST laboratory we offer two different approaches for modelling wind loading to overcome these challenges. These approaches have built on our experience of testing floating offshore platforms since 2018 for both the commercial and research sector.

Research projects

Explore some of the research that has taken place in the COAST lab

Image of a lighthouse taken from above. STORMLAMP – Structural behaviour Of Rock Mounted Lighthouses At the Mercy of imPulsive waves
 Researchers used a combined program of field measurements, laboratory studies and analytical and numerical investigations to enable characterisation of environmental loading and performance to support management of lighthouse structural condition.

FROTH - Fundamentals and Reliability of Offshore Structure Hydrodynamics FROTH – Fundamentals and Reliability of Offshore Structure Hydrodynamics
 The aim of this research was to investigate the detailed physics of violent hydrodynamic impact loading on rigid and elastic structures through a carefully integrated programme of numerical modelling and physical experiments at large scale.

The University of Plymouth's COAST Engineering Research Group – active project: H2020 WETFEET WP6 – Array Breakthroughs – Investigation of compact WEC arrays through laboratory tests and numerical modelling H2020 WETFEET WP6 – Array Breakthroughs -Investigation of compact WEC arrays through laboratory tests and numerical modelling
 This project was funded by H2020 and focused on the minimisation of the number of expensive anchors for a generic array of wave energy converters, via the interlinking of devices. The model was tested in the Ocean Basin.

Care of Shutterstock - Cargo ships entering one of the busiest ports in the world, Singapore. L&R – A zonal CFD approach for fully nonlinear simulations of two vessels in Launch and Recovery operations
 Experiments conducted in the Ocean Basin measured the hydrodynamic interactions between a small vessel alongside a larger vessel during a launch and recovery operation.

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)
 Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is an optical method of flow visualization used in education and research. It is used to obtain instantaneous velocity measurements and related properties in fluids. Dr Edward Ransley has used PIV in the COAST Lab.

COAST Engineering Research Group

The COAST Engineering Research Group is a leading team of coastal and ocean engineering researchers carrying out both fundamental and applied research.
The group contains recognised specialists in laboratory modelling, numerical modelling, field experimentation and theoretical analysis. We focus on major problems facing society regarding rising sea levels, flood risk, and marine renewable energy which have been highlighted in recent government reviews. 
COAST Engineering research group
Marine Building, Plymouth