Professor Selda Oterkus

Co-Director, PeriDynamics Research Centre (PDRC) University of Strathclyde

Her research focuses on Peridynamic Modelling of Ice-Structure Interactions, assessing the impact of ice on ships, offshore platforms, and coastal infrastructure. This includes predictive modeling for structural integrity in harsh environments, with applications in maritime safety, Arctic engineering, and offshore sustainability. Prof. Oterkus has collaborated with BAE Systems, Samsung Electronics, Ferguson Marine, Babcock, QinetiQ, McDermott, Innovate UK, and TWI, engaging in projects related to structural resilience, operational challenges, and digital modeling.

Her previous and current research has been funded by organizations such as Lloyd’s Register and the European Commission. She has also worked with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFOSR) and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) on projects involving materials modeling and structural integrity assessments. She supervises doctoral and postdoctorate researchers in these areas many fleets component areas, including additive manufacturing and robotic welding for the hulls, focusing on advanced fabrication techniques for enhanced durability and performance.

Selda has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including Scientific Reports (Nature) and Journal of Peridynamics and Nonlocal Modeling (Springer), and was the Chair of ASME UK Section. Her work contributes to research and industry efforts aimed at improving maritime operations, structural integrity, and sustainability in extreme environments, including ice-prone regions and next-generation fleet development.