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 Clean Energy, AI, and Climate Change, with groundbreaking studies on wave-structure interactions -- showcased by his multiple publications in Journal of Fluid Mechanics and 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
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
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
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
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
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, 111017-251. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2022.111017
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
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
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
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
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
2021
Journal Article
Numerical study on gap resonance coupled to vessel motions relevant to side-by-side offloading
Ekerhovd, Ivan, Ong, Muk Chen, Taylor, Paul H. and Zhao, Wenhua (2021). Numerical study on gap resonance coupled to vessel motions relevant to side-by-side offloading. Ocean Engineering, 241 110045, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.110045
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
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
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
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
2020
Journal Article
Linearity and nonlinearity in wave run-up and air-gap response for a semi-submersible platform under irregular wave excitation
Lu, Wenyue, Zhao, Wenhua, Taylor, P. H., Yang, Jianmin, Xiao, Longfei and Li, Xin (2020). Linearity and nonlinearity in wave run-up and air-gap response for a semi-submersible platform under irregular wave excitation. Applied Ocean Research, 104 102218, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2020.102218
2020
Journal Article
Experimental and numerical study of free-surface wave resonance in the gap between two elongated parallel boxes with square corners
Wang, Hongchao, Zhao, Wenhua, Draper, S., Wolgamot, H. A. and Taylor, P. H. (2020). Experimental and numerical study of free-surface wave resonance in the gap between two elongated parallel boxes with square corners. Applied Ocean Research, 104 102376, 102376. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2020.102376
2020
Conference Publication
Water intake riser – hydrodynamic damping modelling for fatigue assessment
Minguez, Matthieu, Zhao, Wenhua, Gao, Zhenguo and Efthymiou, Mike (2020). Water intake riser – hydrodynamic damping modelling for fatigue assessment. Offshore Technology Conference Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2-6 November 2020. Richardson, TX USA: Offshore Technology Conference. doi: 10.4043/30302-MS
2020
Conference Publication
Tertiary wave interactions effects upon large floating structures
Ouled Housseine, C., De Hautecoclque, G., Molin, B. and Zhao, W. (2020). Tertiary wave interactions effects upon large floating structures. 30th International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference, Virtual, 11-16 October 2020. Mountain View, CA USA: International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers.
2020
Journal Article
Hydrodynamic damping of a circular cylinder at low KC: experiments and an associated model
Gao, Zhenguo, Efthymiou, Mike, Cheng, Liang, Zhou, Tongming, Minguez, Matthieu and Zhao, Wenhua (2020). Hydrodynamic damping of a circular cylinder at low KC: experiments and an associated model. Marine Structures, 72 102777, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2020.102777
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Shared Mooring System for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chien Ming Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamics of Floating Wind Turbines under Ocean Waves
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tom Baldock, Professor Chien Ming Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
AI-powered offshore aquaculture systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chien Ming Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hydroelastic Analysis of Offshore Fish Farm under Complex Marine Environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chien Ming Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Feasibility of Floating Solar in Queensland Waters
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chien Ming Wang
Media
Enquiries
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