UROP Project

ML-Assisted Structural Optimization of Onshore Flexible Structures Under Hurricane-Induced Wind and Wave Loading

optimization, machine learning, structures, wind, wave, hurricanes

Research Mentor: Dr. Pedro Fernandez-Caban,
Department, College, Affiliation: Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Contact Email: plfernandez@eng.famu.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors (but Computer Science preferable).
Project Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Research Assistant Transportation Required: FSU Bus (Seminole Express)
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 10, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:
Not participating in the roundtable

Project Description

During hurricane events, extreme wind and storm surge conditions constitute the main environmental forces impacting civil infrastructure in coastal regions. In particular, lightweight, tall, and slender structures (e.g., transmission/communication towers, light poles, etc.) are sensitive to the variable and dynamic nature of wind and wave action. Therefore, predicting and optimizing the performance of such structures remains an ongoing challenge. This UROP project seeks to investigate the application of novel ML-assisted optimization strategies that consider the combined effects of wind and wave, and how they interact with coastal structures.


Research Tasks: -Literature Review
-Code Development and Validation (Python)
-Numerical Analysis of Wind and Wave Loading
-Preliminary Structural Optimization Experiments

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: -Programming (Python)
-Statistical Data Analysis
-Experience using Machine Learning models (preferable)