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Diploma · 800 h · 8 modules
Diploma in Marine Animal-Inspired Hydrodynamics
The Diploma in Marine Animal-Inspired Hydrodynamics Prepares you to analyse how marine animals swim and apply those principles to the design of hulls, propellers, turbines and underwater vehicles. You will study fluid mechanics ap
Duration800 h
FormatOnline
Starts14 December
Places20 / 20
Prior knowledge
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Programme overview
What is the Diploma in Marine Animal-Inspired Hydrodynamics?
The Diploma in Marine Animal-Inspired Hydrodynamics
Prepares you to analyse how marine animals swim and apply those principles to the design of hulls, propellers, turbines and underwater vehicles. You will study fluid mechanics applied to animal locomotion, undulatory and oscillatory propulsion, tubercled fins, sharkskin and other flow control strategies, and learn to evaluate them with CFD simulation and flume testing, distinguishing between well-established results and lines of work still under research.
Key advantages
- Applied physics: Fluid mechanics illustrated with examples from the animal world.
- From animal to design: Principles that transfer to hulls, blades and vehicles.
- Real tools: A practical introduction to CFD simulation.
- Technical rigour: A clear line between what is proven and what is emerging.
- Case study: Analysis of a bio-inspired hydrodynamic improvement.
Programme type
Diploma
Study mode
Online
Duration
800 hours
Modules
8
Programme highlights
- Understand flow: Master the fundamentals of hydrodynamics.
- Study swimming: Analyse fish and cetacean locomotion.
- Control flow: Apply drag reduction strategies.
- Simulate: Use CFD and flume testing to validate.
- Boost your career: Open doors to naval engineering, underwater robotics and marine energy.
- Train to design with the efficiency of the ocean’s swimmers.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 8 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Fundamentals of Hydrodynamics
- Properties of fluids
- Reynolds number
- The boundary layer
- Form and friction drag
- Lift
- Laminar and turbulent flow
- Vortex shedding
- Scaling and similarity
02
Biomechanics of Swimming
- Diversity of marine swimmers
- Anguilliform swimming
- Carangiform and thunniform swimming
- Pectoral fin swimming
- Cephalopod jet propulsion
- Cetacean swimming
- Energy efficiency
- Methods for studying swimming
03
Low-Drag Shapes and Surfaces
- Fusiform shapes
- Optimal proportions
- Sharkskin and riblets
- Compliant surfaces
- Mucus and drag-reducing polymers
- Microbubbles and air layers
- Established results
- Lines of ongoing research
04
Bio-Inspired Flow Control
- Humpback whale flippers and tubercles
- Delaying stall
- Vortex generators
- Serrated and quiet edges
- Flexible fins
- Active flow control
- Fin-fin interaction
- Applications to blades
05
Bio-Inspired Propulsion
- Oscillating fins
- Vortex wakes
- The Strouhal number
- Undulatory propulsion
- Robotic fish
- Flexible propulsors
- Comparison with propellers
- Scaling challenges
06
Simulation and Testing
- CFD fundamentals
- Meshing and turbulence models
- Moving meshes
- Validating simulations
- Test flumes
- Particle image velocimetry
- Force measurement
- Open-source software tools
07
Engineering Applications
- Ship hulls and appendages
- Propellers and rudders
- Tidal turbines
- Wind turbines
- Autonomous underwater vehicles
- Underwater gliders
- Sports equipment
- Cost-benefit analysis
08
Case Study: A Bio-Inspired Hydrodynamic Improvement
- Choosing the component to improve
- Identifying the biological model
- Abstracting the principle
- Design proposal
- Setting up the simulation
- Analysing results
- Feasibility assessment
- Presenting conclusions
Workload
Study Time and Workload
800 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Naval, mechanical and aerospace engineers: working with flows and propulsion Underwater vehicle designers: seeking greater efficiency and manoeuvrability Marine energy professionals: designing blades and turbines Biologists and physicists: interested in the biomechanics of swimming Researchers: working on bio-inspired design
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Master the fundamentals
- 02Analyse locomotion
- 03Study flow control
- 04Design propulsors
- 05Simulate
- 06Evaluate applications
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Hydrodynamics engineer: Designing hulls, appendages and propulsors.
02CFD analyst: Flow simulation at engineering firms and technology centres.
03Underwater vehicle designer: Robotics and autonomous vehicles.
04Marine energy engineer: Blade and turbine design.
05R&D engineer: Bio-inspired design projects.
06Researcher: Biomechanics and fluid dynamics.
Questions
Entry Requirements
It helps, but the first module reviews the fundamentals you need.
Yes. CFD simulation is introduced using open-source tools.
Riblets reduce drag under certain conditions; the programme examines what has been demonstrated and what has not.
Yes. Bio-inspired flow control is studied for tidal and wind turbine blades.
You analyse a bio-inspired improvement for a real component and plan how to validate it.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 800 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Diploma in Marine Animal-Inspired Hydrodynamics qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Entry profile: A degree in naval, mechanical, aerospace or industrial engineering, physics, biology or a related field; or professional experience in hydrodynamic design. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Leave your details and admissions will write back. If you already know this is the one, go straight to the application and pay in the same session.