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Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao
Associate Professor

Wenhua Zhao

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53896

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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy of Ocean Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Works

Search Professor Wenhua Zhao’s works on UQ eSpace

55 works between 2011 and 2025

21 - 40 of 55 works

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

Oceanographic wave buoy motion as a 3D-vector field: Spectra, linear components and bound harmonics

2023

Journal Article

Effect of tertiary interactions on free-surface motion of a fixed box in realistic irregular sea states

Hansen, Christine Lynggard, Wolgamot, Hugh, Taylor, Paul H., Zhao, Wenhua, Orszaghova, Jana and Bredmose, Henrik (2023). Effect of tertiary interactions on free-surface motion of a fixed box in realistic irregular sea states. Applied Ocean Research, 140 103725, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2023.103725

Effect of tertiary interactions on free-surface motion of a fixed box in realistic irregular sea states

2023

Journal Article

Wave-by-wave prediction for spread seas using a machine learning model with physical understanding

Chen, Jialun, Taylor, Paul H., Milne, Ian A., Gunawan, David and Zhao, Wenhua (2023). Wave-by-wave prediction for spread seas using a machine learning model with physical understanding. Ocean Engineering, 285 115450, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.115450

Wave-by-wave prediction for spread seas using a machine learning model with physical understanding

2023

Conference Publication

Weakly nonlinear surface wave prediction using a data-driven method with the help of physical understanding

Chen, Jialun, Zhao, Wenhua, Milne, Ian A., Gunawan, David and Taylor, Paul H. (2023). Weakly nonlinear surface wave prediction using a data-driven method with the help of physical understanding. ASME 2023: 42nd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 11 - 16 June 2023. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2023-102780

Weakly nonlinear surface wave prediction using a data-driven method with the help of physical understanding

2023

Journal Article

Forward prediction of surface wave elevations and motions of offshore floating structures using a data-driven model

Chen, Jialun, Milne, Ian, Taylor, Paul H., Gunawan, David and Zhao, Wenhua (2023). Forward prediction of surface wave elevations and motions of offshore floating structures using a data-driven model. Ocean Engineering, 281 114680, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.114680

Forward prediction of surface wave elevations and motions of offshore floating structures using a data-driven model

2023

Journal Article

An innovative method of assessing yield strength of floater hull for semi-submersible floating wind turbine in whole life period

Yang, Yuefu, Chen, Chaohe, Zhao, Wenhua and Fan, Tianhui (2023). An innovative method of assessing yield strength of floater hull for semi-submersible floating wind turbine in whole life period. Ocean Engineering, 270 113679, 270. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2023.113679

An innovative method of assessing yield strength of floater hull for semi-submersible floating wind turbine in whole life period

2023

Journal Article

A constant parameter time domain model for dynamic modelling of multi-body system with strong hydrodynamic interactions

Zou, Meiyan, Chen, Mingsheng, Zhu, Ling, Li, Lin and Zhao, Wenhua (2023). A constant parameter time domain model for dynamic modelling of multi-body system with strong hydrodynamic interactions. Ocean Engineering, 268 113376, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.113376

A constant parameter time domain model for dynamic modelling of multi-body system with strong hydrodynamic interactions

2023

Conference Publication

Comparison of physics-based and machine learning methods for phase-resolved prediction of waves measured in the field

Chen, Jialun, Hlophe, Thobani, Zhao, Wenhua, Milne, Ian A., Gunawan, David, Kurniawan, Adi, Wolgamot, Hugh, Taylor, Paul H. and Orszaghova, Jana (2023). Comparison of physics-based and machine learning methods for phase-resolved prediction of waves measured in the field. European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference, Bilbao, Spain, 3-7 September 2023. European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series. doi: 10.36688/ewtec-2023-488

Comparison of physics-based and machine learning methods for phase-resolved prediction of waves measured in the field

2022

Journal Article

Nonlinear harmonics of gap fluid resonance with floating body motions

Zhao, Wenhua, Molin, B., Wang, Y., Wolgamot, H. A. and Taylor, P. H. (2022). Nonlinear harmonics of gap fluid resonance with floating body motions. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 951 A23, 1-28. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2022.834

Nonlinear harmonics of gap fluid resonance with floating body motions

2022

Journal Article

Variability of wave power production of the M4 machine at two energetic open ocean locations: off Albany, Western Australia and at EMEC, Orkney, UK

Orszaghova, J., Lemoine, S., Santo, H., Taylor, P. H., Kurniawan, A., McGrath, N., Zhao, W. and Cuttler, M. V.W. (2022). Variability of wave power production of the M4 machine at two energetic open ocean locations: off Albany, Western Australia and at EMEC, Orkney, UK. Renewable Energy, 197, 417-431. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2022.07.053

Variability of wave power production of the M4 machine at two energetic open ocean locations: off Albany, Western Australia and at EMEC, Orkney, UK

2022

Journal Article

A data-driven approach for fatigue life of water intake risers

Gao, Zhenguo and Zhao, Wenhua (2022). A data-driven approach for fatigue life of water intake risers. Marine Structures, 83 103188, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2022.103188

A data-driven approach for fatigue life of water intake risers

2022

Journal Article

Operability analysis of SWATH as a service vessel for offshore wind turbine in the southeastern coast of China

Li, Binbin, Qiao, Dongsheng, Zhao, Wenhua, Hu, Zhenzhong and Li, Sunwei (2022). Operability analysis of SWATH as a service vessel for offshore wind turbine in the southeastern coast of China. Ocean Engineering, 251 111017, 251. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.111017

Operability analysis of SWATH as a service vessel for offshore wind turbine in the southeastern coast of China

2022

Conference Publication

Validation of a simplified numerical flng-carrier side-by-side offloading model with experiment

Wang, Yutao, Wolgamot, Hugh, Zhao, Wenhua, Draper, Scott and Milne, Ian (2022). Validation of a simplified numerical flng-carrier side-by-side offloading model with experiment. ASME 2022: 41st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Hamburg, German, 5-10 June 2022. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2022-79449

Validation of a simplified numerical flng-carrier side-by-side offloading model with experiment

2022

Conference Publication

Influence of gap width and artificial damping on gap resonance

Ekerhovd, Ivan, Ong, Muk Chen and Zhao, Wenhua (2022). Influence of gap width and artificial damping on gap resonance. ASME 2022: 41st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Hamburg, Germany, 5–10 June 2022. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2022-80758

Influence of gap width and artificial damping on gap resonance

2022

Conference Publication

Preliminary investigation of a shared mooring arrangement for a floating offshore wind turbine farm in deep water

Wang, Yutao, Wolgamot, Hugh, Watson, Phillip, Zhao, Wenhua, Milne, Ian and Gaudin, Christophe (2022). Preliminary investigation of a shared mooring arrangement for a floating offshore wind turbine farm in deep water. ASME 2022: 41st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Hamburg, Germany, 5-10 June 2022. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2022-81245

Preliminary investigation of a shared mooring arrangement for a floating offshore wind turbine farm in deep water

2022

Conference Publication

Short-term forecasting of surface wave elevation based on an autoregressive model

Chen, Jialun, Zhao, Wenhua, Milne, Ian and Draper, Scott (2022). Short-term forecasting of surface wave elevation based on an autoregressive model. ASME 2022: 41st International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Hamburg, Germany, 5-10 June 2022. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). doi: 10.1115/OMAE2022-81298

Short-term forecasting of surface wave elevation based on an autoregressive model

2021

Journal Article

Gap resonance from linear to quartic wave excitation and the structure of nonlinear transfer functions

Zhao, W., Taylor, P. H., Wolgamot, H. A. and Eatock Taylor, R. (2021). Gap resonance from linear to quartic wave excitation and the structure of nonlinear transfer functions. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 926 A3, 1-21. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2021.659

Gap resonance from linear to quartic wave excitation and the structure of nonlinear transfer functions

2021

Journal Article

Design waves and statistics of linear gap resonances in random seas

Zhao, Wenhua, Taylor, P. H. and Wolgamot, H. A. (2021). Design waves and statistics of linear gap resonances in random seas. Flow, 1 E11, 1-14. doi: 10.1017/flo.2021.11

Design waves and statistics of linear gap resonances in random seas

2021

Journal Article

Towards a model of hydrodynamic damping for a circular cylinder with helical strakes at low KC

Gao, Zhenguo, Efthymiou, Mike, Cheng, Liang, Zhou, Tongming, Minguez, Matthieu and Zhao, Wenhua (2021). Towards a model of hydrodynamic damping for a circular cylinder with helical strakes at low KC. Marine Structures, 78 103025, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2021.103025

Towards a model of hydrodynamic damping for a circular cylinder with helical strakes at low KC

2021

Journal Article

Fatigue analysis of water intake risers: hydrodynamic damping effect and a hybrid frequency-time domain method

Gao, Zhenguo, Efthymiou, Mike, Cheng, Liang, Zhou, Tongming, Minguez, Matthieu and Zhao, Wenhua (2021). Fatigue analysis of water intake risers: hydrodynamic damping effect and a hybrid frequency-time domain method. Marine Structures, 75 102869, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2020.102869

Fatigue analysis of water intake risers: hydrodynamic damping effect and a hybrid frequency-time domain method

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao is:
Available for supervision

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Media

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