The ModConFlex (Modelling and Control of Flexible Structures Interacting with Fluids) project is centered around two main fields of application. The research provides theoretical foundations in two areas that can contribute to reach the European Green Deal objectives.
One application is the control of floating wind turbines. These are subject to various dynamic influences from water and air. Air is also referred to as fluid in the scientific context.
In 2020, the European Commission published a strategy on offshore wind energy, setting targets for at least 60 GW of offshore wind in 2030 and 300 GW in 2050. The regional offshore goals for 2030) even exceed the Commission goals by well over a third (86-89 GW by 2030). So far, floating wind turbines are in the minority here. Hence, there is still tremendous capacity for research on theoretical background as well as technological improvement to provide higher efficiency or even new functionality. The power of available instrumentation and digital processors is steadily increasing and it is often the theory and algorithm development that is lagging behind. Already now, offshore wind farms are capable of harvesting more frequent and stronger winds than onshore wind farms.
The second application are highly flexible aircraft, which are aircraft with a very high aspect ratio. The aspect ratio describes the shape of a plane's wing. When the aspect ratio is high, the wings are comparatively long and narrow, i.e. the plane has a large wingspan. Planes with a high aspect ratio require comparatively less fuel.
Some research results could also be applied to soft robotics.
At the background of these - at first glance quite different - applications, similar mathematical models are at work. Advances in the same mathematical theories can improve these models. Some of the project research focusses purely on the advancement of these mathematical theories, while others work on the improvement of the physical modelling underlying floating wind turbines or flexible aircraft.
In addition to contributing to the advancement of science, the ModConFlex project trains 14 researchers employed at eight universities in five countries in state-of-the-art scientific techniques in mathematics and/or engineering.
Via secondments at other universities and participation in international conferences, the researchers' training benefits from an international network and the dissemination of their research. Secondments at industrial partners additionally provide them with an insight into research outside of academia and improve their understanding of the practical application of research.
The project researchers are employed at Bergische Universität Wuppertal (D), Université de Bordeaux (F), Université Marie et Louis Pasteur (F), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (D), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (GB), Tel Aviv University (IL), Universiteit Twente (NL), and University of Warwick (GB).
