Narrative Statement

Coastal and ocean engineering handles the problem of the dynamics of the ocean from

the bottom to its uppermost surface and their effects on the structures located offshore

and onshore. The uppermost layer dynamics of the ocean, mainly the wave, is hardly to

determine and descript with a simple analytical function. Many generations of the

researchers within coastal and ocean engineering are devoting their career on the

approximation of the waves with reliable and straight-forward mathematical functions.

In my research I will try to find out the solution of the dynamics of the fluid within a

cylindrical container, subject to the harmonic excitation or even random excitation. This

problem is a very interesting topic, since many engineering field share the similar

phenomena, such as the a LNG carrier at sea for future’s natural gas harvest offshore

and transportation, the water wave dynamics inside a moon pool of an offshore drilling

vessel, the fuel cell of the aircraft with similar geometry configuration, tuned liquid

damper on a building to tune its natural frequency, and etc. This topic is very

fundamental in science.

In my research, I will try to find the nonlinear wave solution for the water wave dynamics

inside the cylindrical container, and/or may extend this research to the wave dynamics

inside a moon pool, with which the non-penetration bottom condition will be violated

and other complicated boundary conditions may be introduced. The Bessel

representation of the solution is promising for this cylindrical shaped container; in the

mean while other numerical method, such as boundary element method and finite

element method, will also be studied for this problem.

Before I came to the US for further study, I also have the admission offer from other

countries. But without any hesitation I decide to accept the opportunity on studying in

US, because education in USA, dislike in other countries, especially the graduate leveled

education, is more concentrated on the fundamental science behind the engineering

phenomena. I believe the fundamental science, rather than some stunning practical skill,

is the vital importance for any academic researchers. For a master leveled student or a

young PhD student, more important is to grasp enough theoretical knowledge and

fundamental science in this early stage of research. I study very hard in my first year of

graduate study, because I cherish this opportunity. However, the truth that the high

tuition fee I need to pay for my research frequently haunted me. I believe the sufficient

finance support will release my anxious and make me more patients towards my

research and study.