Search
photo of Qinwei Ma

Professor Qingwei Ma

Professor of Hydrodynamics

School of Science & Technology Department of Engineering

Contact details

About

Overview

Professor Qingwei Ma obtained BSc and MSc degrees in Engineering from Harbin Engineering University, PR China, in 1982 and 1984, respectively. He received his PhD degree from University College London, UK, in 1998.

After being a lecturer for several years in Ocean University of Qingdao (now Ocean University of China), he joined University College London as a Visiting Research Fellow in 1992 and then became a Research Fellow in 1994. In 2001, he was appointed as a Lecturer at the Robert Gordon University. Soon after, he joined the City, University of London in 2002 as a Lecturer in Fluids Engineering, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in Fluids Engineering in 2004 and in 2007 promoted to Reader. He became a full Professor of Hydrodynamics in 2010.

He is now also the Director of the Research Centre for Fluid-Structure Interaction, City, University of London.

Qualifications

  • PhD Ocean Engineering & Naval Architecture, University College London, United Kingdom, 1998
  • MEng Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, China, 1984
  • BEng Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, China, 1982

Employment

  • Professor of Hydrodynamics, City, University of London, United Kingdom, August 2010 - present
  • Reader in Hydraulic Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, January 2007 - July 2010
  • Lecturer in Fluids Engineering, City, University of London, United Kingdom, August 2004 - December 2006
  • Lecturer, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom, April 2001 - June 2002

Visiting appointments

  • Visiting Chair Professor, Harbin Engineering University, China, 2010 - present

Fellowships

  • Fellow (FRINA), Royal Institution of Naval Architects
  • Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Memberships of committees

  • Chair, Group on Environmental Forces of Society for Underwater Technology (SUTGEF), 2013 - present
  • Chair and Advisor, International Hydrodynamics Committee of ISOPE, 2011 - 2014

Memberships of professional organisations

  • Board of Directors, International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE), 2016 - present
  • Chartered Engineer, Royal Institution of Naval Architects
  • Member, International Society of Offshore & Polar Engineers

Awards

  • International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE) (2016). CH Kim Award
  • City, University of London (2015). Vice-chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching

Research

Research Interests

Professor Ma has been engaged in research on interaction between fluid/water-waves and structures since his study for MSc.

The areas covered by his research includes:

• Hydrodynamics of turbines/propellers and wave/current energy devices;
• Hydrodynamics and dynamics of floating and fixed structures used for offshore engineering;
• Responses of Offshore Wind platforms to nonlinear ocean waves;
• Nonlinear wave loadings on marine structures;
• Large scale nonlinear wave dynamics;
• Vortex induced vibration, particularly under combined wave-current conditions;
• New advanced numerical methods, such as QALE-FEM (Quasi Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian Finite Element Method) for modelling fully nonlinear interaction between waves and floating structures, MLPG_R (Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin method with Rankine source solution) method for modelling interaction between breaking waves and structures, and ESBI (Enhanced Spectral Boundary Integral) method for simulating fully nonlinear waves in random seas on a large temporal and spatial scale.

Recently, his attention has been focused much on multi-scale multi-model simulations of fluid-structure interactions in marine engineering. In this area, he has led the development of several hybrid numerical methods, including the hybrid method combining QALE-FEM and MLPG_R method, the hybrid method combining SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) and MLPG_R method and the hybrid method combining ESBI and Enhanced Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation.

Publications

Publications by category

Books (3)

  • Ma, Q. (2010). The Proceedings of The Twentieth (2010) International OFFSHORE AND POLAR ENGINEERING CONFERENCE -VOLUME III. Chung, J.S., Dias, F., Kuo, J.-.F. and Ma, Q. (Eds.), http://www.isope.org/publications/proceedings/ISOPE/ISOPE%202010/start.htm
  • Ma, Q. (2009). Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves. World Scientific Pub Co Inc. ISBN 9789812836496.
  • Chung, J.S., Grilli, S.T., Naito, S. and Ma, Q. (Eds.), (2008). The Proceedings of The Eighteenth (2008) International OFFSHORE AND POLAR ENGINEERING CONFERENCE-VOLUME III. http://www.isope.org/publications/proceedings/ISOPE/ISOPE%202008/TOC.htm

Chapters (5)

  • Wang, J., Ma, Q. and Yan, S. (2019). Numerical Study on Secondary Flow Characteristics After Dual Stepped Cylinder at Low Reynolds Number. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering (pp. 559-572). Springer Singapore. ISBN 9789811331183.
  • Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. (2010). QALE-FEM METHOD AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE SIMULATION OF FREE-RESPONSES OF FLOATING BODIES AND OVERTURNING WAVES. Advances in Coastal and Ocean Engineering (pp. 165-202). WORLD SCIENTIFIC. ISBN 9789812836496.
  • Ma, Q. (2009). Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves. In Ma, Q. (Ed.), Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves World Scientific Pub Co Inc. ISBN 9789812836496.
  • Ma, Q. (2009). Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves. In Ma, Q. (Ed.), Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves World Scientific Pub Co Inc. ISBN 9789812836496.
  • Ma, Q. (2009). Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves. In Ma, Q. (Ed.), Advances in Numerical Simulation of Nonlinear Water Waves World Scientific Pub Co Inc. ISBN 9789812836496.

Conference papers and proceedings (84)

  • Zhang, N., Ni, B., Xue, Y., Zan, Y., Zeng, Q., Yan, S.... Ma, Q. (2025). Numerical study of sloshing in a circular tank by a GNN supported ISPH method. The 35th International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference 1-6 June, Seoul, Korea.
  • Zhang, N., Ma, Q., Yan, S. and Li, Q. (2024). A GNN supported ISPH method for numerical simulation of wave interaction with fixed structures. 34th International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference 16-21 June, Rhodes, Greece.
  • Christou, A., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Xie, Z. Fluid Structure Interactions with the method of Large Eddy Simulations – Free fall impact of a triangular wedge. .
  • Liu, P., Zhang, N., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Li, Q. Preliminary Investigation on Predicting Wave Pressure in Single-phase ISPH by GNN Trained using Two-phase Navier-Stokes Solutions. .
  • Zhang, Y., Li, Q., Yan, S. and Ma, Q. Numerical Study of Wave Interaction with Multiple Floating Buoys by qaleFOAM. .
  • Zhang, N., Yan, S., Ma, Q., Zhang, Y. and Zheng, X. A numerical study on focused wave interactions with a submerged flexible membrane using SPH. .
  • Jagdale, S., Li, Q., Zhang, Y., Zhang, N., Yan, S. and Ma, Q. A Comparative Numerical Study of Hydrodynamic Response of a Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Semi-submersible Platform by Using QaleFOAM. .
  • Niu, W.B., Zheng, X., Ma, Q.W., Yan, S.Q. and Hu, Z.H. Motion Response and Aero-elastic Analysis of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine. .
  • Li, Q., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Zhang, N. Numerical investigation of breaking wave interaction with vertical wall attached with recurved parapet using qaleFOAM. .
  • Zhang, N., Yan, S., Zheng, X. and Ma, Q. (2021). Numerical study on the dynamic interaction between ice and a vertical compliant structure by smoothed particle hydrodynamics. The 31st International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference 20-25 June, Rhodes, Greece.
  • Jagdale, S., Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. Springing response of a tension-leg-platform wind turbine excited by third-harmonic force in nonlinear regular waves. .
  • Gong, J., Li, Y., Yan, S. and Ma, Q. Numerical simulation of trimaran's motion in wave by a hybrid method based on qale-fem and openfoam. .
  • Yu, Z., Yan, S., Zheng, X., Ma, Q. and Hao, H. Numerical simulations of a floating offshore wind turbine in the focused wave with a hybrid model. .
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q., Asnim, W., Sulaiman, Z. and Sun, H. Comparative study on focusing wave interaction with cylinder using QALE-FEM and qaleFOAM. .
  • Gong, J., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Li, Y. Numerical simulation of fixed and moving cylinders in focusing wave by a hybrid method coupling qale-fem with openfoam. .
  • Li, Y., Lu, J., Yan, S. and Ma, Q. Numerical simulation of focusing wave interaction with fixed cylinder using qalefoam. .
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q.W., Wang, J. and Wang, J. (2019). Numerical Modelling of Wave Resonance in a Narrow Gap Between Two Floating Bodies in Close Proximity Using a Hybrid Model. ASME 2019 38th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering 9-14 June.doi:10.1115/omae2019-95247
  • Xie, Z., Yan, S., Ma, Q., Stoesser, T. and Lu, L. Three-dimensional numerical study of solitary waves interacting with a horizontal plate. .
  • Yan, S., Wang, J., Wang, J., Ma, Q. and Xie, Z. Numerical simulation of wave structure interaction using qalefoam. .
  • Wang, J., Wang, J., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Xia, G. An improved passive wave absorption technique for fnpt-ns solver. .
  • Zhang, N., Yan, S., Zheng, X. and Ma, Q. A 3-d hybrid model coupling sph and qale-fem for simulating nonlinear water wave interaction with floating structure. .
  • Xie, Z., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Stoesser, T. Numerical modelling of focusing wave impact on a fixed offshore structure. .
  • Li, Q., Yan, S., Wang, J., Ma, Q., Xie, Z. and Sriram, V. Numerical simulation of focusing wave interaction with FPSO-like structure using FNPT-NS Solver. .
  • Wang, J., Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. Examination on errors of two simplified models for simulating weakly spreading seas. .
  • Wang, J., Ma, Q.W., Wan, D. and Yan, S. Numerical study on flow evolution after dual stepped cylinder at low reynolds number. .
  • Li, Q., Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. Vortex shedding behavior of a horizontal circular cylinder near the free surface with different submerged depths. .
  • Yan, S. and Ma, Q. A hybrid approach coupling mlpg-r with QALE-FEM for modelling fully nonlinear water waves. .
  • Wang, J., Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. On differences of rogue waves modeled by three approaches in numerical wave tank. .
  • Fourtakas, G., Stansby, P.K., Rogers, B.D., Lind, S.J., Yan, S. and Ma, Q.W. On the coupling of Incompressible SPH with a Finite Element potential flow solver for nonlinear free surface flows. .
  • Zhang, X., Guo, Z. and Ma, Q. A study on hydrodynamics of several typical floating platforms for wind turbines. .
  • Bihnam, M., Said, M., Yan, S. and Ma, Q. Numerical investigation on effects of compressibility on water entry problems. .
  • Wang, J., Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. (2016). Numerical Investigation on Spectrum Evolution of Narrow-Banded Random Waves in Shallow Water Based on KdV and Fully Nonlinear Model. ASME 2016 35th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering 19-24 June.doi:10.1115/omae2016-54169
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q.W., Wang, J. and Zhou, J. (2016). Self-Adaptive Wave Absorbing Technique for Nonlinear Shallow Water Waves. ASME 2016 35th International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering 19-24 June.doi:10.1115/omae2016-54475
  • Yang, H., Yan, S. and Ma, Q. Effects of tank motion on oil spilling from damaged oil tanks. .
  • Yang, L., Yang, H., Yan, S., Ma, Q. and Bihnam, M. Comparative study on water impact problem. .
  • Zheng, X., Xu, S., Duan, W. and Ma, Q. Pattern wave simulation of high speed ships by ISPH based on 2D+t theory. .
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q., Sriram, V., Qian, L., Ferrer, P.J.M. and Schlurmann, T. (2015). Numerical and experimental studies of moving cylinder in uni-directional focusing waves. The Twenty-fifth International Ocean and Polar Engineering Conference 21-26 June, Hawaii, USA.
  • Ma, Q.W., Yan, S., Greaves, D., Mai, T. and Raby, A. Numerical and experimental studies of Interaction between FPSO and focusing waves. .
  • Xu, S.J., Han, D.F. and Ma, Q.W. Experimental study on the cross-coupling hydrodynamic coefficients of ROV. .
  • Wang, Q., Yan, F., Ma, Q. and Yu, L. Parameter optimization of power take-off system in a floating wind-wave energy hybrid system. .
  • Hao, H., Guo, Z., Ma, Q. and Dai, S. A preliminary study on the hydrodynamic propulsive force of a pair of inversely oscillating hydrofoils. .
  • Guo, Z., Ma, Q. and Yang, D. The influence of sidehull hydrodynamics on the T-craft seakeeping motion. .
  • Guo, Z., Ma, Q. and Sun, H. A Seakeeping Analysis Method for T-Craft. .doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.239
  • Wang, J.H. and Ma, Q.W. Numerical Investigation on Limitation of Boussinesq Equation for Generating Focusing Waves. .doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.310
  • Hu, Z., Zheng, X., Ma, Q.-.W. and Duan, W.-.Y. Fluid Flow in a Cavity Driven by an Oscillating Lid by an Improved Incompressible SPH. .doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.241
  • Zheng, X., Hu, Z., Ma, Q.-.W. and Duan, W.-.Y. Incompressible SPH Based on Rankine Source Solution for Water Wave Impact Simulation. .doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2015.11.255
  • Ding, S., Yan, S., Han, D. and Ma, Q. Overview on Hybrid Wind-Wave Energy Systems. .
  • Zhou, J.T., Yan, S., Ma, Q.W. and Wong, Y. Comparative studies on numerical simulation of tsunami wave loads on 3D onshore structures. .
  • Yan, S. and Ma, Q.W. Sensitivity investigation on wave dynamics with thin-walled moonpool. .
  • Guo, Z., Ma, Q. and Lin, Z. A comparison of seakeeping predictions for wave-piercing catamarans using STF and URANS methods. .
  • Yan, S., Zhou, J.T., Ma, Q.W., Wang, J., Zheng, Y. and Wazni, B. Fully nonlinear simulation of tsunami wave impacts on onshore structures. .
  • Ma, Q.W., Yan, S. and Zhou, J.T. Fully nonlinear simulation of resonant wave motion in gap between two structures. .
  • Ma, Q.W. and Sriram, V. Numerical Investigations on Effects of Seabed Geometry on Wave Overtopping of Coastal Defense Structures. .
  • Ma, Q. (2012). Numerical modelling of Wave-Plate Interaction using Mesh free method. Proceedings of 8th International Conference on Coastal and Port Engineering in Developing Countries 20-24 February, IIT Madras, Chennai, INDIA.
  • Ma, Q. and Jagdale, S. Effect of Non-linear Wave Forces on Dynamic Response of Floating Offshore Wind Turbine. Proceedings of ISOPE 2012.
  • Ma, Q., Sriram, V. and Schlurmann, T. Numerical simulation of breaking waves using hybrid coupling of FNPT and NS solvers. Proceedings of ISOPE 2012.
  • Ma, Q., Sun, M., Sun, L. and Li, B. Preliminary analysis of impact pressure on swash bulkheads on the top of a liquid tank. Proceedings of ISOPE 2012.
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q.W., D'Mello, C. and Zhang, L. Numerical investigation of fully nonlinear interaction between freak waves and 2-D submerged cylinders. .
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q.W., Lu, J. and Chen, S. Fully nonlinear analysis on responses of a moored FPSO to waves in shallow water. .
  • Ma, Q., Yan, S., Lu, J. and Chen, S. Fully Nonlinear Analysis on Responses of a Moored FPSO to Waves in Shallow Water. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q., Yan, S., D'Mello, C. and Zhang, L. Numerical Investigation of Fully Nonlinear Interaction between Freak Waves and 2-D Submerged Cylinders. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q. and Sriram, V. Simulation of 2D breaking waves by using improved MLPG_R method. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q., Chen, S. and Yan, S. Numerical Investigation on Hydrodynamic Characteristics of a Planing Hull. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q. and Jagdale, S. Practical Simulation on Motions of a TLP-Type Support Structure for Offshore Wind Turbines. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q., Xu, G. and Sun, L. Numerical Investigations on Truss SPAR Motion in Waves. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q., Zhang, L., Zhao, J. and Zhang, X.W. Integrated Fatigue Load Analysis of Wave and Wind for Offshore Wind Turbine Foundation. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q., Zheng, X. and Duan, W.Y. Numerical Simulation of 2D water waves by using K2_SPH. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Yan, S. and Ma, Q.W. Numerical simulation of wind effects on breaking solitary waves. .
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q.W. and Cheng, X. Fully nonlinear hydrodynamic interaction between two 3D floating structures in close proximity. .
  • Zhou, J.T., Ma, Q.W., Zhang, L. and Yan, S. Numerical investigation of violent wave impact on offshore wind energy structures using MLPG-R method. .
  • Ma, Q.W., Duan, W.Y., Zhou, J., Zheng, X. and Yan, S. Numerical study on impact pressure due to violent sloshing waves. .
  • Zhou, J.T., Ma, Q.W., Zhang, L. and Yan, S. Numerical investigation of violent wave impact on offshore wind energy structures using MLPG_R method. .
  • Ma, Q., Yan, S. and Cheng, X. Fully Nonlinear Hydrodynamic Interaction between Two 3D Floating Structures in Close Proximity. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q., Duan, W.Y., Zhou, J., Zheng, X. and Yan, S. Numerical Study on Impact Pressure due to Violent Sloshing Waves. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Zhou, J.T., Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. Numerical implementation of solid boundary conditions in meshless methods. .
  • Ma, Q.W. and Yan, S. Features of QALE-FEM and its applications to nonlinear wave hydrodynamics. .
  • Yan, S. and Ma, Q.W. Numerical investigations on responses of two moored 3D floating structures to steep waves. .
  • Yan, S. and Ma, Q.W. Nonlinear simulation of 3D freak waves using a fast numerical method. .
  • Ma, Q. and Yan, S. Preliminary Simulation of Wind Effects on 3D Freak Waves. ROGUE WAVES 2008.
  • Yan, S. and Ma, Q.W. Effects of an arbitrary sea bed on responses of moored floating structures to steep waves. .
  • Yan, S., Ma, Q.W. and Cheng, X. Fully nonlinear simulation of two floating structures in close proximity subjected to oblique waves. .
  • Ma, Q. and Ya, S. Numerical simulation of wind effects on breaking solitary waves. Conference/Proceeding of ISOPE 2009.
  • Ma, Q. and Yan, S. Investigations of Freak Waves on Uniform Current. International Workshop on Water Waves and Floating Bodies.
  • Ma, Q., Sriram, V., Yan, S. and Zhou, J.T. Applications of MLPG_R and SALE/QALE-FEM for wave -structure interactions. Proceedings of ninth International Conference on Hydro-Science and Engineering.

Journal articles (134)

Professional activities

Editorial activity (3)

  • Ocean Systems Engineering, Editors-in-Chief, 2017 - present.
  • Computer Modeling in Engineering & the Sciences, Member of Editorial Board.
  • Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy, Associate Editor.

Media appearances (3)

  • THE. Qingwei Ma, reader in hydraulic engineering at City University London, has been awarded a Chang Jiang Scholarship by the Ministry of Education of China. Dr Ma came to the UK in 1992 and started a PhD at University College London in 1994. He joined City in 2002, and was promoted to a senior lecturer position in 2004 and then appointed reader in 2007. The Chang Jiang Scholarship was established in 1998 by China's Ministry of Education and the Li Ka Shing Foundation - a Chinese charitable organisation that supports education and healthcare activities through grants and sponsorships, with the aim of developing Chinese research institutions through the engagement of Chang Jiang scholars. Dr Ma said he appreciated the prospects that the scholarship, to be based at Harbin Engineering University, would give him. "Only a small number of Chinese universities have a chance to host this professorship - around 100, " he said. "I will use this opportunity to extend my collaboration with Chinese researchers in my area."
  • Offshore engineers to benefit from new wave modelling tool. Designers of offshore structures could soon benefit from a new software tool under development at City University London. The research team, which has already been awarded more than £100k in funding, claims the tool can model the behaviour of extreme ocean waves more accurately, efficiently and consistently than current technology. http://www.eurekamagazine.co.uk/article/33221/Offshore-engineers-to-benefit-from-new-wave-modelling-tool.aspx
  • Wave-modelling tool could improve offshore structures. The design and maintenance of offshore structures such as oil rigs and wind turbines could benefit from a new wave-modelling tool currently in development. Read more: http://www.theengineer.co.uk/wave-modelling-tool-could-improve-offshore-structures/1008371.article#ixzz1aNhZm0DK