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Staff Profile

Professor Pengfei Liu

Professor of Marine Hydrodynamics, Director of Marine Propulsion Research Laboratory, Fellow of Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Fellow of Royal Society of Naval Architects (RINA) & Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE)

Background

Introduction:

Pengfei Liu is currently the Professor of Marine Hydrodynamics, Director of the Marine Propulsion Laboratory, Marine, Offshore and Subsea Technology at the School of Engineering at Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.


Pengfei is a Fellow of Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME美国船舶设计与轮机工程师学会 会士), Fellow of Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA 英国皇家船舶工程师协会 会士) & Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE加拿大工程院 院士).


His research areas of expertise and interests include applied aero- and hydrodynamics for rotary wings and oscillating foils for marine propulsion and renewable energy; research and development of innovative technologies for practical engineering problem solving and design; and numerical tooling, high performance computing (parallel and cloud) and experimental apparatus development on performance evaluation, design and optimization of rotors, propulsors and thrusters.


Biography:

He received his B.Eng. degree from Wuhan University of Technology, China in 1982, and M. Eng. and PhD in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada in 1991 and 1996, respectively. He worked as a Senior Research Officer at the National Research Council Canada (1999-2016) and as an Associate Professor at the Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania, Australia (2016-2019). He joined Newcastle University as a Professor of Hydrodynamics in September 2019.

He has served as an adjunct professor/researcher at Memorial University of Newfoundland since 2000, China Ocean University (2002-2005), Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2005-2008), Harbin Ship Engineering University, China (2008-2010), the University of Tasmania (2013-2016), and Harbin Institute of Technology Weihai since 2017.

He has over two decades of expertise in the development of specialty engineering software, working on experimental hydrodynamics, and teaching and learning in undergraduate and supervision of postgraduates. He is a Professional Engineer of APEG-BC, Canada and a member of various international academic committees, including the Board of Directors of the Computational Fluid Dynamics Society of Canada (2001-2007) and ISSC Ocean Space Utilization Committee (2018-2021). As of date, Professor Liu has co-authored over 120 refereed journal articles and conference papers in engineering software development for hydrodynamic/aerodynamic applications of rotary and oscillatory wings for propulsion and renewable energy.

 

Memberships:

Professional practice

P. Eng. in Naval Arch (APEGBC and PEGNL, Canada) since 1994

SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) Fellow, Member since 1999

RINA (Royal Institute of Naval Architects) Fellow, since 2022

CAE (Canadian Academy of Engineering) Fellow, since 2021

Committee associations

Member Director, Board of Directors of the CFD Society of Canada (2001-2007)

Member and Secretary, Azimuth Podded Propulsion Committee, 23rd (ITTC), (2002-2005)

Member, Ocean Energy Utilisation Committee (ISSC 2006-2009)

Member, Dynamic Response Committee (ISSC 2009-2012)

Member, Offshore Renewable Energy Committee (ISSC 2012-2015-2018)

Other

Canadian/US Golf Teachers Federation, Level IV (Master) Teaching Professional

Royal Canadian Golf Association Level III (Provincial) Rules of Golf Official 

 

Teaching

Textbook

  • Marine Propeller-Turbine Rotor Prototyping, Design and Optimisation --- A hands-on computational approach, ISBN: 9781838350505


Software for Teaching & Research

  • Rotorysics (formerly Propella, commercialised) --- A 3D time-domain panel method code for rotors as propulsors and turbine or dual-mode rotors, in terms of hydrodynamics, structural integrity and coupled fluid-structure interaction.
  • DF_OSFBEM: A 3D time-domain panel method code for oscillating (dual-) foil propulsors and renewable energy turbines.
  • DGSI: A statistical code to build performance database from a collection of big-data from either testing or numerical simulation for integration, interpolation and extrapolation.


                    Modules taught and being taught at Newcastle University

  • MAR8069 Advanced Naval Architecture
  • MAR8071 Fundamentals of Marine Engineering
  • MAR8072 Fundamentals of Naval Architecture
  • MAR2019 Marine Hydrodynamics
  • MAR8038 High Speed and Advanced Craft


Courses/Unit/Modules Taught

Australia Maritime College, University of Tasmania (2016-2019):

  • JEE136 Dynamic (First-Year)
  • JEE333 Resistance and Propulsion (Third-Year)
  • JEE505 Engineering Project Management (Postgraduate)


Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai, China (2017-2019)

  • JEE221 Fluid Mechanics (Second-Year)


College of the North Atlantic Information Technology (1998-1999):

  • CP1150 Visual BASIC Programming    
  • CP3410 Database Design and Programming
  • CP2600 Computer Hardware Fundamentals

  

College of the North Atlantic Computing Technology:

  • CP3200 Object-Oriented C  Programming
  • CP2270 Java Programming
  • CP2190 UNIX Programming
  • CP2170 Window NT Server

College of the North Atlantic Electromechanical Engineering Technology (1996-1999):

  • AE2301 Analog Electronics
  • AE1200 Electronic Devices
  • AM 2100 Applied Mechanics I
  • DP 1100 Digital Electronics
  • AM 2200 Applied Mechanics II
  • FM3100 Fluids (Hydraulics and Pneumatics)
  • DP2340 Robotics and CAM

 

College of the North Atlantic Welding Engineering Technology (1991-1995):

 

  • COMP 3115 Procedural Programming
  • DR 3300 Welding CAD/CAM (CNC)
  • ENGI 3201 Strength of Materials I
  • WELD 1024 Physical Metallurgy II
  • ENGI 3241 Strength of Materials II

 

 College of the North Atlantic Engineering Technology First-Year (1991-1999):

 

  • MATH 1212 Calculus I
  • ELEC  1100 Electro-technology I
  • MATH 1222 Calculus II
  • ELEC  1101 Electro-technology II
  • PHYS 1100 Physics I
  • ENGI 1100 Engineering Graphics I
  • PHYS 1101 Physics II
  • ENGI 1300 Engineering Graphics II

Memorial University of Newfoundland Common First-Year (1995-1997):

 

  • MATH 1000 Differential  Calculus
  • MATH 1001 Integral Calculus
  • PHYS 1020 Physics I
  • PHYS 1021 Physics II 
Research

Expertise

  • Experimental and numerical modelling of renewable energy turbine and marine propulsion hydrodynamics.
  • Large-scale numerical modelling: lifting-surface and panel method for steady/unsteady 3D flexible/rigid air-foil, turbines, marine propellers and prop-fans, finite difference method in heat transfer; CFD in turbulent flow simulation.
  • Parallel computing algorithms, MPI, hardware configuration and experimentation for high performance computing (HPC) in marine hydrodynamics.
  • Scientific Visualization Programming using Microsoft Foundation Class (C of MFC) and OpenGL.
  • Could Computing for marine hydrodynamics.
  • Marine propeller and renewable energy turbines performance evaluation, design and optimization.
  • Polar Class propellers strength and integrity design coupled with hydrodynamic performance optimization.
  • Novel technology and device invention and development.

Research Themes

  • Surface piercing propeller performance evaluation.
  • Ducted-tip propeller performance tests at Cavitation tunnel.
  • Numerical simulation of puffin dipping dynamics.
  • Azimuth podded propeller synthetic studies.
  • Marine propeller turbulent modelling and simulation code development.
  • High performance computing algorithms development and hardware configuration and testing for computational marine hydrodynamics
  • Offshore Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel’s dynamic positioning thruster hydrodynamic force and momentum prediction.
  • Vortex induced vibration (VIV) for deep sea flexible structures.
  • Wing-in-ground (WIG) effect, self-damped pitch, dual foil thruster array to create high manoeuvrability of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) --- currently for a PhD student.
  • Ice Induced Vibration (IIV) numerical model development and ice tank testing.
  • Prototype of Bi-directional Horizontal Axis Turbine Rotor Series.
  • Wing-in-ground (WIG) effect wind and tidal turbine technological development, performance evaluation and prototyping.
  • Polar-class propeller and turbine rotor design coupled with hydrodynamic performance and structural integrity optimization.
  • Novel manoeuvrable propeller for underwater vehicle and surface ship --- a breakthrough technology and an alternative for helicopter propeller that with propulsion and manoeuvrability of 2-in-1 function on one propeller.

Past collaborations

  • Surface piercing propeller performance evaluation with MUN and University of Genoa, 1999-2000.
  • Ducted-tip propeller performance tests with MUN and UBC, 2001-2002.
  • Azimuth podded propeller synthetic studies (NRC-NSERC partnership program, $1M cash including $700k from NSERC and total of $2M) with MUN, NRC, Oceanic Consulting Co. and Thordon Bearings, 2002-2007.
  • High performance computing algorithms development and hardware configuration and testing using developed multi-body multi-path panel method with Saint Xavier University.
  • Offshore Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel’s dynamic positioning thruster hydrodynamic force and momentum prediction, 2001-2004, with MUN.
  • Vortex induced vibration (VIV) for deep sea flexible structures, 2001-2004 with MUN.
  • Wing-in-ground (WIG) effect, self-damped pitch, dual foil thruster array to create high manoeuvrability of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) with Institute of Mechanics (IMech), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
  • Ice Induced Vibration (IIV) numerical model development and ice tank testing, with Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2006-2011.
  • Prototype of Bi-directional Horizontal Axis Turbine Rotor Series with MUN, 2010-2012.
  • Wing-in-ground effect turbine prototype and R&D with Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai and Tasmania Hydro, since 2017.

Awards

  • NRC Outstanding Scientist/Researcher Performance Award, National Research Council Canada, 2001.
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hong Kong KC Wong Education Foundation Research Excellence Award, 2003.

Project ideas open for PhD students (not limited to the list):

  • Polar class propeller design strength and evaluation (Theoretical and computational)
  • Polar class propeller design strength and evaluation (Experimental)
  • Hydrodynamic Performance of wing-in-ground effect oscillating foil propulsors (Experimental)
  • Hydrodynamic Performance of wing-in-ground effect oscillating foil propulsors (CFD)
  • Wing-in-ground effect oscillating foil propulsor for AUV (Experimental)
  • Wing-in-ground effect oscillating foil propulsor for AUV (Theoretical and computational)
  • Hydrodynamic performance of accelerating and decelerating ducts (Experimental)
  • Hydrodynamic characteristics of propellers with skewed and contoured blade planform shape
  • Development of Dual-mode propeller-turbine as towed shaft alternators (Experimental)
  • High performance could and/or parallel computing for marine hydrodynamics
  • Novel rotor blade for high efficiency low environmental impact tidal energy device
  • Novel manoeuvring propeller prototype and technology development

 

Publications