MPM for Net Zero

Leveraging The Material Point Method For Large Deformation Soil-Structure Interaction To Realise Net Zero

Photo by Nicholas Doherty on Unsplash

The Material Point Method (MPM) for Net Zero project is developing cutting-edge computational tools to address critical geotechnical challenges in the offshore renewable energy sector. By enabling accurate simulation of large deformation soil-structure interactions, this work directly supports the UK's transition to net zero emissions.

The Challenge

Offshore renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, is critical for the UK to reach its net zero and energy security targets. The UK's current 14GW offshore wind capacity must increase to 50GW by 2030 and over 120GW by 2050—representing annual investments of approximately £17bn and an industry employing around 200,000 people.

The successful deployment of offshore renewable energy infrastructure depends on geotechnical engineers' ability to understand and predict how supporting structures, moorings, and enabling works interact with the seabed. These interactions are:

• Truly three-dimensional
• Involve large deformation soil-structure interaction
• Include complex contact and friction effects
• Exhibit history-dependent non-linear soil behaviour

Currently, the industry lacks convenient, accurate, and robust modelling frameworks for these processes, instead relying on empirical models, expensive field trials, and conservative design approaches that increase costs.

Our Solution

This project transitions Durham University's world-leading, UKRI-funded, MPM-based modelling software into the offshore renewable energy geotechnical community. The Material Point Method overcomes limitations of traditional finite element approaches when dealing with extreme deformations, providing engineers with powerful new capabilities.

Key Objectives

1. Transition fundamental MPM advances into industry-accessible, useable, and robust modelling software
2. Demonstrate MPM capabilities for key offshore renewable energy soil-structure interaction problems
3. Expand available soil material models to meet industry expectations
4. Facilitate community adoption through workshops, training, and user support
5. Provide proof of concept for future commercialization with industry partner Oasys

Impact

This work will empower offshore renewable energy engineers to:

• Model problems that are currently impossible with existing tools
• Optimize solutions for site-specific conditions (cable burial depths, foundation selection)
• Reduce risk in expensive offshore operations
• Better manage geotechnical uncertainty that drives significant capital costs
• Quantify soil state changes during installation to improve capacity predictions

By reducing uncertainty and enabling more optimized technical solutions, this project will help lower the Levelized Cost of Energy and fill a vital technical gap necessary for supporting the UK's target to achieve net zero by 2050.

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Project Information

Funding: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Project Reference: UKRI788
Lead Institution: Durham University Engineering Department

Principal Investigator: Dr William Coombs
Co-Investigator: Professor Charles Augarde

This project is delivered in collaboration with leading offshore renewable energy industry partners: Cathie, Arup, First Marine Solutions Ltd, and Oasys.