Internship in Computational Fluid Dynamics for Floating Offshore Wind (BW Ideol / Ecole Centrale Nantes)

Job title

Internship in Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines.

Company

BW Ideol, in collaboration with LHEEA - Ecole Centrale Nantes.

Description of the job

BW Ideol and LHEEA - Ecole Centrale Nantes are offering an internship position focused on Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analysis for the calculation of hydrodynamic loads and performances of the BW-Ideol Damping-Pool barge floating wind turbine in waves.

Context:

Floating Wind Turbine (FWT) foundations are subjected to significant dynamic loads and motions due to severe environmental conditions that characterize the sites where they are generally installed. Among these, wave-induced loads and motions represent a major contribution.

The FWT foundation developed by BW Ideol is a barge characterized by a small draft and freeboard, the presence of a central opening (Damping Pool) and, optionally, a damping plate installed around the perimeter of the platform at its bottom (skirt). The primary function of the skirt is to reduce motions by generating additional damping and added mass.

The loads and motions experienced by the FWT are difficult to study due to the complexity of the hydrodynamic phenomena involved in wave–structure interaction, especially in the presence of the skirt. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) represents a valid alternative to experiments and lower-fidelity numerical models, generally based on potential flow theory, for the investigation of such complex phenomena.

Scope:

This internship activity is based on the use of existing CFD models developed in the OpenFOAM software to analyse the hydrodynamic behaviour of Damping-Pool (DP) barge floating wind turbine under wave loading. These models were calibrated and validated using experimental data obtained from two-dimensional wave flume tests and three-dimensional model basin tests conducted on the FWT DP barge in regular waves.

Main Objectives:

• Analysis of performances of the skirt and definition of its optimal configuration in terms of dimensions, position and characteristics (solid or porous, and degree of porosity) through simulations in regular waves.
• Extension of the CFD models to reproduce the hydrodynamic response of DP barge under irregular wave conditions, through comparison with model basin test results.

Supervision Team:

• Adrien Courbois (Hydrodynamics Lead Engineer, BW Ideol) - Tutor.
• Benjamin Bouscasse (Head of IIHNE research group, LHEEA - Ecole Centrale Nantes) - Co-tutor.
• Seung-Yoon Han (Researcher in Ocean Engineering, IIHNE - Ecole Centrale Nantes) - Co-tutor.

Duration: 5-6 months.

Start date: Between March and June 2026.

Requirements

• Final year of Master's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering or hydrodynamics.
• Strong inclination for hydrodynamic computational analysis, fluid-structure interaction modelling and post-processing of experimental data.
• Knowledge of CFD analysis software such as OpenFOAM or similar and Python would be an advantage.
• Good command of English, both written and spoken.
• Comfortable in written communication and reporting.

Location

Nantes, France (with short stay in La Ciotat, France).

Salary

Not specified.

How to apply

Applicants should send their CV to recrutement@bw-ideol.com.

Deadline

28/02/2026. 

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