DrIoannis Karmpadakis

Wave Statistics and Extreme Events

I develop statistical descriptions of random, nonlinear and breaking waves, with a focus on the intermediate and shallow water depths where conventional distributions become unreliable. Through the LoWiSh and LOADS joint industry projects I generated the largest experimental database of stochastic waves in finite water depths, alongside the largest collated set of field data, and used them to derive new wave height and crest height distributions. These are now consistuting recommended practice for stochastic wave calculation in design guidelines, such as those in DNV, ISO and API standards. Current work extends this to short-crested seas, wave breaking and rogue wave occurrence over sloping bathymetry.

Wave Loading and the Design of Coastal and Offshore Structures

I investigate the extreme hydrodynamic loads acting on marine structures and how these should be represented in design and in the reliability assessment of existing assets. This includes slamming and wave-in-deck loading, loads around abrupt depth transitions, tsunami-induced loads, and the performance of coastal defences. Experimental work on recurved parapets and rock revetments has fed directly into new seawall designs in England and Wales.

Coastal Flooding, Erosion and Long-term Change

I work on the long-term evolution of shorelines and the effect of climate change on coastal erosion and flooding, combining satellite-derived shoreline records at national scale with long-term statistical modelling of wave climate. Current projects examine wind forcing on wave overtopping, coastal change over century scales, and the fate of dense particles including radioactive material in the coastal zone.

Marine Renewables and Multi-functional Coastal Structures

I study the design and optimisation of marine renewable energy devices and their co-benefits for coastal protection — treating energy extraction and coastal defence as one design problem rather than two. Work spans oscillating water column devices integrated into breakwaters, inflatable submerged breakwaters, and a novel tidal gravity generator for shoreside energy which was a winner of the UK Government's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4).

Approach and Facilities

Across these themes I work from physical evidence: controlled experiments in the Hydrodynamics Laboratory at Imperial, field measurement campaigns, and numerical and statistical models validated against both.