Predicting Dam Vulnerability to Landslide-Induced Waves

About the research project

Extreme rainfall, landslides, and other climate-driven hazards can generate debris flows capable of entering reservoirs at high velocity and producing large impulse waves. These waves can threaten dam infrastructure through overtopping, erosion, and dynamic loading. Predicting requires coupled analysis of debris-flow runout, wave generation and propagation, and dam response.

This PhD project will develop CFD approaches predicting dam vulnerability to debris-flow-induced waves. Debris-flow propagation will be assessed to quantify runout distance, velocity, flow depth, and deposition, considering the influence of material properties, topography, and flow volume. The resulting impact conditions will be used to model debris-flow entry into reservoirs and the subsequent generation and propagation of free-surface waves.

A key focus will be identifying how debris-flow volume, velocity, density, particle size, and reservoir geometry control wave height, energy, and propagation. The generated wave conditions will subsequently be applied to various forms of dams to evaluate wave-induced loading, overtopping, localised structural stresses, and erosion.

This project within the School of Climate Safe Engineering at the University of Tasmania and combines geotechnical engineering, computational fluid dynamics, natural-hazard modelling, and structural analysis to improve the resilience of critical dam infrastructure.

Primary supervisor

Meet Doctor Ashley Dyson

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• Applicants should have a strong academic background in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• A First-Class Honours degree (or equivalent) or a Master’s degree with a substantial research component is normally required for admission to a PhD at the University of Tasmania.

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• A Bachelor’s degree with Honours, Master’s degree, or equivalent qualification in Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• A strong academic background in geotechnical engineering, soil mechanics, slope stability, engineering mechanics, or fluid mechanics.
• An understanding of landslide initiation and slope failure mechanisms, including the influence of soil strength, pore-water pressures, rainfall infiltration, slope geometry, and material variability on instability.
• Knowledge of post-failure landslide and debris-flow behaviour, including mobilisation, runout, material entrainment, velocity, deposition, and the transition from slope failure to flow-like behaviour.
• An interest in computational modelling of natural hazards, particularly landslides, debris flows, slope failures, and their interaction with reservoirs and infrastructure.
• A sound understanding of fluid dynamics and/or granular flow mechanics relevant to debris-flow propagation, reservoir entry, and free-surface wave generation.

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Previous research or project experience in landslides, slope stability, debris flows, geotechnical hazards, or related areas of geotechnical engineering.
• Experience investigating landslide initiation and post-failure behaviour, including rainfall-induced failure, large deformation, runout, entrainment, or deposition.
• Knowledge of debris-flow and landslide mechanics, including soil–water mixtures, granular flows, rheology, and transitions between solid-like and flow-like behaviour.
• Experience with numerical geotechnical modelling using software such as Abaqus, PLAXIS, FLAC, or similar finite-element/finite-difference packages.
• Experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and free-surface flow modelling using packages such as OpenFOAM, FLOW-3D, ANSYS Fluent, or similar.
• Familiarity with numerical approaches for large-deformation and multiphase problems, including CEL, ALE, SPH, MPM, VOF, or related techniques.
• Understanding of wave generation and propagation, particularly impulse waves generated by landslides, debris flows, or other mass movements entering water bodies.
• Experience with dam engineering, hydraulic structures, structural analysis, erosion, or overtopping assessment.
• Programming and data-analysis experience using Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar languages.
• Experience with laboratory or field investigation of soils, landslides, debris flows, free-surface flows, or related natural-hazard processes.
• Evidence of previous research capability through an Honours or Master’s thesis, research project, conference presentation, technical report, or peer-reviewed publication.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Doctor Ashley Dyson to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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