Professor Giles Thomas, BMT Chair of Maritime Engineering at University College London will present on “Slamming Catamarans and Surfing Prawns” in the beginning of new year.
Date:   Thursday, 15/1/2015 Room: Boldrewood campus B175 Seminar Room 1025 Time:  12:00-13:00
High-speed catamarans have been the cornerstone of the Australian ship design and building industry over recent decades. Though there have been several major research challenges to ensure they have maintained their global edge. One of these challenges has been the ability to design vessels to operate in extreme wave conditions, at high speed whilst maximising payload – this has needed significant insight into the wave loads experienced by such craft and in particular slamming characteristics. This talk will outline the approach taken by a team in Tasmania to solve these issues and some key findings.
Also to bring some sunshine to the wintry UK, two other Australian summertime-focused projects will be introduced: surfing wave pools and fish bycatch reduction.
 
Biography
Giles Thomas was recently appointed to the BMT Chair of Maritime Engineering at University College London. Previously he was Professor and Director of the National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics at the Australian Maritime College, an institute of the University of Tasmania – responsible for the maritime engineering academic programmes, research activities and suite of research facilities. He has over 24 years of research and development experience in the fields of hydrodynamics and fluid-structure interaction working with a large range of industry partners including the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Incat, Woodside, Austal Ships, Tenix, Clough, Intecsea and Webber Wave Pools.