Vinuri Gamlath
PhD Student [2024-2028]
Zienkiewicz Institute for Modelling, Data and AI
Vinuri is working on polymer-based flexible wave energy converters (FlexWECs) that gain significant interest in recent years. These converters typically incorporate the deformation of elastomeric materials to facilitate the capture and conversion of wave energy. However, flexible materials are fatigue-prone and are susceptible to various ageing and degradation phenomena in subsea conditions. Hence, to reduce various damage-related failures, particularly fatigue-induced damages in FlexWECs, it is highly desirable to synthesis fatigue-resistant polymers. However, the currently available commercial polymers have limited fatigue life cycles, especially under electro-mechanical load. Therefore, the aim of this research is to develop new fatigue-resistant polymers for FlexWECs that will help in producing more reliable, cost effective wave energy devices to reduce the localised costs.
