Join Us
We currently have three openings for a Master’s thesis / internship project at the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics (VKI). Projects are typically carried out within the Erasmus program, with an ideal duration of 4–6 months.
How to apply: please contact mendez@vki.ac.be and include your CV and transcript of records. If possible, add a short paragraph about your background and indicate which topic(s) you are interested in.
Open topics
Proposal 1: Non-Intrusive Diagnosis of Interface Waves in Liquid Metal Coatings Using Image Velocimetry and RBF-Based Reconstruction
Context & Problem
Industrial liquid metal coating processes are highly sensitive to interface instabilities, which can severely degrade coating quality. To address this, VKI is developing non-intrusive, real-time sensing techniques to detect and characterize interface waves within these flows.
Methodology
This thesis will refine a diagnostic approach combining real-time image velocimetry with Radial Basis Function (RBF) interface reconstruction algorithms. Building on encouraging preliminary results, the student will improve the robustness of the reconstruction procedure and conduct an extensive validation campaign in the AmeLie experimental facility.
Expected Outcomes
The project will bridge experimental data processing and algorithm development. The results will provide a more accurate tool for real-time monitoring, with direct applications in industrial coating optimization.
Proposal 2: Experimental Investigation of Motion Control in Semi-Submersible Floating Wind Turbine Platforms
Context & Problem
Floating wind turbines are essential for deep-water energy harvesting, yet they face significant stability challenges. Platform oscillations induced by wave loading can adversely affect turbine performance and structural integrity. There is a critical need for control strategies that mitigate these motions without interfering with the turbine’s aerodynamics.
Methodology
The study utilizes a scaled semi-submersible floater equipped with water-filled chambers. By actively adjusting internal water levels via pumps, tunable damping is introduced to counteract pitch motions. The student will design and integrate wave/motion sensors, manage real-time data acquisition, and develop closed-loop control strategies to regulate internal fluid distribution.
Expected Outcomes
The project will demonstrate the feasibility of decoupling hydrodynamic stabilization from aerodynamic control. The findings will provide practical insights into improving the stability and structural longevity of offshore floating wind platforms.
Proposal 3: Low-Order Dynamic Modeling of Variable-Pitch Propellers under Rapid RPM and Pitch Transients
Context & Problem
The next generation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) requires enhanced agility and efficiency. Variable-Pitch Propellers (VPP) offer a solution by allowing drones to adapt their effective angle of attack to varying flight conditions. However, controlling these systems during fast maneuvers is difficult due to the complex, transient aerodynamic behavior that occurs when both RPM and blade pitch change simultaneously.
Methodology
This project aims to develop a low-order dynamic model of a VPP. Building on existing Wiener-structure models, the student will characterize the inertial, aerodynamic, and actuator-induced delays that dominate transient thrust. Experimental data will be collected from rapid step and ramp changes in VKI facilities to parameterize the model and capture nonlinear coupling effects between control inputs.
Expected Outcomes
The work will result in a validated, reduced-order model suitable for real-time flight controllers. This will enable more aggressive UAV maneuvers and optimized energy consumption by providing a precise mathematical framework for transient VPP performance.