Overview
Background
Wenhua Zhao is an Associate Professor at The University of Queensland and a globally recognized expert in offshore hydrodynamics and renewable energy technologies.
He is the recipient of the prestigious ARC Future Fellowship (2024-2028) and DECRA Fellowship (2019-2022), with over 110 publications and six awards influencing both industry and academia. He has helped secure over AUD30 million research funding from both Australian Research Council and industry, contributing to transformative engineering practices in renewable energy sectors and oil & gas industry.
His research focuses on wave-structure interactions, spanning groundbreaking fundamental studies -- showcased by his multiple publications in Journal of Fluid Mechanics -- to industry-focused applications, a rare integration of theoretical research with practical implementation. He pioneers innovations in floating wind energy, floating solar, offshore aquaculture, and green hydrogen, leveraging artificial intelligence to transform offshore renewable energies.
Wenhua has been a Deputy Editor for Ocean Engineering (No. 1 in marine engineering, ISI web), Associate Editor for the renowned ASME's Journal of OMAE, and editorial board member for the Q1 journal Applied Ocean Research. His teaching, particularly the "Design of Offshore Energy Systems" course, has prepared hundreds of students for impactful careers in coastal and ocean engineering.
Availability
- Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Works
Search Professor Wenhua Zhao’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Dynamic analysis to reduce the cost for fixed offshore wind energy turbines
Ma, Yuxiang, Zhao, Rubo, Zhao, Wenhua, Tai, Bing and Dong, Guohai (2025). Dynamic analysis to reduce the cost for fixed offshore wind energy turbines. Applied Energy, 378 (Part A) 124804. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124804
2024
Journal Article
Design and modeling of an eco-friendly anchored fish aggregating device with artificial reef subjected to wave and current
Zhang, Tongzheng, Zhao, Wenhua, Zhou, Cheng, Zhao, Fenfang and Wan, Rong (2024). Design and modeling of an eco-friendly anchored fish aggregating device with artificial reef subjected to wave and current. Ocean Engineering, 313 119599, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.119599
2024
Journal Article
Hydrodynamic performance of a monopile offshore wind turbine in extreme wave groups
Zhao, Rubo, Zhao, Wenhua, Ma, Yuxiang, Tai, Bing and Dong, Guohai (2024). Hydrodynamic performance of a monopile offshore wind turbine in extreme wave groups. Ocean Engineering, 312 119328, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.119328
2024
Journal Article
AI-based dynamic avoidance in deep-sea mining
Chen, Qihang, Yang, Jianmin, Zhao, Wenhua, Tao, Longbin, Mao, Jinghang and Lu, Changyu (2024). AI-based dynamic avoidance in deep-sea mining. Ocean Engineering, 311 118945, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.118945
2024
Journal Article
Experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of a multi-DOF WEC-type floating breakwater
Zhou, Binzhen, Lin, Chusen, Huang, Xu, Zhang, Hengming, Zhao, Wenhua, Zhu, Songye and Jin, Peng (2024). Experimental study on the hydrodynamic performance of a multi-DOF WEC-type floating breakwater. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 202 114694, 202. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114694
2024
Journal Article
Phase-resolved wave prediction with varying buoy positions in the field using machine learning-based methods
Chen, Jialun, Hlophe, Thobani, Gunawan, David, Taylor, Paul H., Milne, Ian A. and Zhao, Wenhua (2024). Phase-resolved wave prediction with varying buoy positions in the field using machine learning-based methods. Ocean Engineering, 307 118107, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.118107
2024
Journal Article
Weakly nonlinear surface wave prediction using a data-driven method with the help of physical understanding
Chen, Jialun, Milne, Ian A., Gunawan, David, Taylor, Paul H. and Zhao, Wenhua (2024). Weakly nonlinear surface wave prediction using a data-driven method with the help of physical understanding. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 146 (4) 041201, 4. doi: 10.1115/1.4064109
2024
Journal Article
An experimental study on global motions and structural internal loads of a 5 MW floating wind turbine supported on a multi-segment semi-submersible hull in shallow water
Ma, Yueyuan, Deng, Shi, Wang, Shuaishuai, Chen, Peng, Zhao, Wenhua and Cheng, Zhengshun (2024). An experimental study on global motions and structural internal loads of a 5 MW floating wind turbine supported on a multi-segment semi-submersible hull in shallow water. Marine Structures, 95 103582, 95. doi: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2024.103582
2024
Journal Article
Algorithms for dynamic control of a deep-sea mining vehicle based on deep reinforcement learning
Chen, Qihang, Yang, Jianmin, Zhao, Wenhua, Tao, Longbin, Mao, Jinghang and Li, Zhiyuan (2024). Algorithms for dynamic control of a deep-sea mining vehicle based on deep reinforcement learning. Ocean Engineering, 298 117199, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.117199
2024
Journal Article
What a wave buoy actually measures in 3D: analysis of a mild sea state
Ding, Yue, Taylor, Paul H., Zhao, Wenhua and Dory, Jean-Noel (2024). What a wave buoy actually measures in 3D: analysis of a mild sea state. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 146 (2) 021203, 2. doi: 10.1115/1.4064110
2024
Journal Article
Experimental and numerical investigation of gap resonances between side-by-side fixed barges under beam sea excitation
Zou, Meiyan, Chen, Mingsheng, Zhu, Ling, Yun, Qihao, Zhao, Wenhua, Liang, Qiyu and Zhao, Yanjie (2024). Experimental and numerical investigation of gap resonances between side-by-side fixed barges under beam sea excitation. Ocean Engineering, 297 117150, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.117150
2024
Journal Article
A fully coupled time domain model capturing nonlinear dynamics of float-over deck installation
Chen, Mingsheng, Zou, Meiyan, Zhu, Ling, Ouyang, MingJun, Liang, Qiyu and Zhao, Wenhua (2024). A fully coupled time domain model capturing nonlinear dynamics of float-over deck installation. Ocean Engineering, 293 116721, 1-26. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.116721
2024
Conference Publication
Comparison of two types of wave buoys: linear and second-order motion
Ding, Yue, Taylor, Paul H., Hlophe, Thobani and Zhao, Wenhua (2024). Comparison of two types of wave buoys: linear and second-order motion. ASME 2024: 43rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Singapore, Singapore, 9-14 June 2024. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2024-127016
2024
Conference Publication
Development of an experimental system to investigate viscous damping of oscillatory flow between two vessels
Yang, Yuhang, Zhao, Wenhua, Draper, Scott and Wolgamot, Hugh (2024). Development of an experimental system to investigate viscous damping of oscillatory flow between two vessels. ASME 2024: 43rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Singapore, Singapore, 9–14 June 2024. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2024-128004
2024
Conference Publication
An attention-based deep learning model for phase-resolved wave prediction
Chen, Jialun, Gunawan, David, Zhao, Wenhua, Taylor, Paul H., Chen, Yunzhuo and Milne, Ian A. (2024). An attention-based deep learning model for phase-resolved wave prediction. ASME 2024: 43rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Singapore, Singapore, 9-14 June 2024. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2024-127605
2024
Conference Publication
Vessel motion during side-by-side offloading: comparison of field data and numerical model
Wang, Yutao, Wolgamot, Hugh, Zhao, Wenhua, Draper, Scott and Watson, Phillip (2024). Vessel motion during side-by-side offloading: comparison of field data and numerical model. ASME 2024: 43rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Singapore, Singapore, 9-14 June 2024. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2024-128336
2024
Conference Publication
Hydrodynamic performance of 2D undulating fins under flow excitation near the free surface
Liu, Chenxiang, Wang, Chenglong, Zhang, Xiantao and Zhao, Wenhua (2024). Hydrodynamic performance of 2D undulating fins under flow excitation near the free surface. 34th International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference, Rhodes, Greece, 16 - 21 June 2024. Mountain View, CA, United States: International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.
2024
Conference Publication
Design analysis of shared mooring for floating offshore wind farm
Li, Binbin, Wang, Chenyu, Yang, Lei and Zhao, Wenhua (2024). Design analysis of shared mooring for floating offshore wind farm. ASME 43rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (OMAE), Singapore, Singapore, 9-14 June 2024. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
2024
Conference Publication
Linear and nonlinear pitch response of a floating wind turbine
Ma, Yueyuan, Cheng, Zhengshun, Zhao, Wenhua, Wang, Shuaishuai, Xiao, Longfei and Peng, Tao (2024). Linear and nonlinear pitch response of a floating wind turbine. ASME 2024: 43rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Singapore, Singapore, 9-14 June 2024. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2024-125619
2023
Journal Article
Oceanographic wave buoy motion as a 3D-vector field: Spectra, linear components and bound harmonics
Ding, Yue, Taylor, Paul H., Zhao, Wenhua, Dory, Jean-Noel, Hlophe, Thobani and Draper, Scott (2023). Oceanographic wave buoy motion as a 3D-vector field: Spectra, linear components and bound harmonics. Applied Ocean Research, 141 103777, 141. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2023.103777
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao is:
- Available for supervision
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