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
2020
Conference Publication
Amplitude Enhancement of Flow-Induced Vibration for Energy Harnessing
Shao, Ze, Zhou, Tongming, Zhu, Hongjun, Zang, Zhipeng and Zhao, Wenhua (2020). Amplitude Enhancement of Flow-Induced Vibration for Energy Harnessing. 6th International Conference on Renewable Energy Technologies (ICRET 2020), Perth, WA Australia, 8-10 January 2020. Les Ulis, France: EDP Sciences. doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/202016001005
2020
Journal Article
Group dynamics and wave resonances in a narrow gap: modes and reduced group velocity
Zhao, Wenhua, Taylor, P. H., Wolgamot, H. A., Molin, B. and Taylor, R. Eatock (2020). Group dynamics and wave resonances in a narrow gap: modes and reduced group velocity. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 883 A22, 1-15. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.879
2020
Conference Publication
Experimental study of hydrodynamic damping for water intake risers
Gao, Zhenguo, Efthymiou, Mike, Zhao, Wenhua, Cheng, Liang and Zhou, Tongming (2020). Experimental study of hydrodynamic damping for water intake risers. ASME 2020 39th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering OMAE2020, Virtual, 3-7 August 2020. New York, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. doi: 10.1115/OMAE2020-18119
2019
Journal Article
Amplification of random wave run-up on the front face of a box driven by tertiary wave interactions
Zhao, W., Taylor, P. H., Wolgamot, H. A. and Eatock Taylor, R. (2019). Amplification of random wave run-up on the front face of a box driven by tertiary wave interactions. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 869, 706-725. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.229
2019
Journal Article
Resolving wave and laminar boundary layer scales for gap resonance problems
Wang, H., Wolgamot, H. A., Draper, S., Zhao, W., Taylor, P. H. and Cheng, L. (2019). Resolving wave and laminar boundary layer scales for gap resonance problems. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 866, 759-775. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2019.115
2019
Journal Article
Eliciting features of 2D greenwater overtopping of a fixed box using modified dam break models
Zhang, Xiantao, Draper, Scott, Wolgamot, Hugh, Zhao, Wenhua and Cheng, Liang (2019). Eliciting features of 2D greenwater overtopping of a fixed box using modified dam break models. Applied Ocean Research, 84, 74-91. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2019.01.006
2019
Conference Publication
CFD investigations of 2D greenwater overtopping of a floating offshore vessel
Zhang, Xiantao, Draper, Scott, Wolgamot, Hugh, Zhao, Wenhua, Chen, Lifen and Cheng, Liang (2019). CFD investigations of 2D greenwater overtopping of a floating offshore vessel. ASME 2019 38th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering OMAE2019, Glasgow, Scotland, 9-14 June 2019. New York, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. doi: 10.1115/OMAE2019-95865
2018
Journal Article
Development of a computational fluid dynamics model to simulate three-dimensional gap resonance driven by surface waves
Wang, Hongchao, Draper, Scott, Zhao, Wenhua, Wolgamot, Hugh and Cheng, Liang (2018). Development of a computational fluid dynamics model to simulate three-dimensional gap resonance driven by surface waves. Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 140 (6) 061803, 1-13. doi: 10.1115/1.4040242
2018
Journal Article
Design loads and long term distribution of mooring line response of a large weathervaning vessel in a tropical cyclone environment
Stanisic, Dunja, Efthymiou, Mike, Kimiaei, Mehrdad and Zhao, Wenhua (2018). Design loads and long term distribution of mooring line response of a large weathervaning vessel in a tropical cyclone environment. Marine Structures, 61, 361-380. doi: 10.1016/j.marstruc.2018.06.004
2018
Journal Article
Linear viscous damping in random wave excited gap resonance at laboratory scale — NewWave analysis and reciprocity
Zhao, Wenhua, Taylor, Paul H., Wolgamot, Hugh A. and Taylor, Rodney Eatock (2018). Linear viscous damping in random wave excited gap resonance at laboratory scale — NewWave analysis and reciprocity. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 80, 59-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2018.03.002
2018
Journal Article
Current practice and research directions in hydrodynamics for FLNG-side-by-side offloading
Zhao, W., Milne, I. A., Efthymiou, M., Wolgamot, H. A., Draper, S., Taylor, P. H. and Eatock Taylor, R. (2018). Current practice and research directions in hydrodynamics for FLNG-side-by-side offloading. Ocean Engineering, 158, 99-110. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.03.076
2018
Journal Article
Identifying linear and nonlinear coupling between fluid sloshing in tanks, roll of a barge and external free-surface waves
Zhao, W., Taylor, P. H., Wolgamot, H. A. and Eatock Taylor, R. (2018). Identifying linear and nonlinear coupling between fluid sloshing in tanks, roll of a barge and external free-surface waves. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 844, 403-434. doi: 10.1017/jfm.2018.186
2018
Journal Article
Dependence of critical filling level on excitation amplitude in a rectangular sloshing tank
Lu, Yucen, Zhou, Tongming, Cheng, Liang, Zhao, Wenhua and Jiang, Hongyi (2018). Dependence of critical filling level on excitation amplitude in a rectangular sloshing tank. Ocean Engineering, 156, 500-511. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.03.030
2018
Conference Publication
Technology qualification of deepwater transport shuttle adjustable buoyancy system
Gaskill, Collin G., Carlisle, Kipp B., Schroeder, Art J., Chitwood, James E., Gay, Tom A. and Zhao, Wenhua (2018). Technology qualification of deepwater transport shuttle adjustable buoyancy system. Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, TX United States, 30 April – 3 May 2018. Richardson, TX United States: Offshore Technology Conference. doi: 10.4043/28924-ms
2018
Journal Article
Estimation of gap resonance relevant to side-by-side offloading
Zhao, Wenhua, Pan, Zhiyuan, Lin, Frank, Li, Binbin, Taylor, Paul H. and Efthymiou, Mike (2018). Estimation of gap resonance relevant to side-by-side offloading. Ocean Engineering, 153, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2018.01.056
2018
Conference Publication
Numerical investigation of effects of bow flare angle on greenwater overtopping a fixed offshore vessel
Zhang, Xiantao, Wolgamot, Hugh, Zhao, Wenhua and Cheng, Liang (2018). Numerical investigation of effects of bow flare angle on greenwater overtopping a fixed offshore vessel. ASME 2018 37th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Madrid, Spain, 17 - 22 June 2018. New York, NY, United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. doi: 10.1115/OMAE2018-77487
2018
Conference Publication
Resonant fluid motion in the narrow gap between FLNG and LNG carrier
Wolgamot, Hugh, Chua, Kie Hian, Feng, Xingya, Li, Binbin and Zhao, Wenhua (2018). Resonant fluid motion in the narrow gap between FLNG and LNG carrier. Offshore Technology Conference Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20 - 23 March 2018. Offshore Technology Conference. doi: 10.4043/28261-MS
2017
Journal Article
Numerical simulation of deterministic freak wave based on energy distribution
Gao, Ning-Bo, Yang, Jian-Min, Zhao, Wen-Hua and Li, Xin (2017). Numerical simulation of deterministic freak wave based on energy distribution. Chuan Bo Li Xue/Journal of Ship Mechanics, 21 (12), 1449-1459. doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1007-7294.2017.12.001
2017
Journal Article
Anchor loads in taut moorings: The impact of inverse catenary shakedown
Xiong, Lingzhi, White, David J., Neubecker, Steven R., Zhao, Wenhua and Yang, Jianmin (2017). Anchor loads in taut moorings: The impact of inverse catenary shakedown. Applied Ocean Research, 67, 225-235. doi: 10.1016/j.apor.2017.06.010
2017
Conference Publication
Development of a CFD model to simulate three-dimensional gap resonance applicable to flng side-by-side offloading
Wang, Hongchao, Draper, Scott, Zhao, Wenhua, Wolgamot, Hugh and Cheng, Liang (2017). Development of a CFD model to simulate three-dimensional gap resonance applicable to flng side-by-side offloading. ASME 2017 36th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering, Trondheim, Norway, 25–30 June 2017. New York, NY United States: American Society of Mechanical Engineers. doi: 10.1115/OMAE2017-61673
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Wenhua Zhao is:
- Available for supervision
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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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