Civil Engineering Department faculty member, Assoc. Prof.Dr. Aslı Numanoğlu Genç's project entitled "Investigation of Settling Velocity for Regular and Irregular Shaped Microplastics by Experimental, Numerical and Deep Learning Methods" is supported within the scope of the TÜBiTAK ARDEB 1001 Programme for 32 months. The project is interdisciplinary as researchers from three different departments from the Faculty of Engineering of TED University are in the Project team: Prof.Dr. Mehmet Ali Kökpınar from Civil Engineering Department, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Çağıl Kandemir and Asst. Prof.Dr. Onur Baş from Mechanical Engineering Department and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökçe Nur Yılmaz from Computer Engineering Department.
The main aim of the proposed project is; to determine the settling velocity and settling behavior of microplastic particles in different polymer types with regular and irregular shapes using experimental, numerical, and deep learning techniques. Microplastic pollution affects plankton and primary production in the oceans and can change the global carbon cycle. The damage caused by microplastic pollution to the oceans and coastal ecosystems makes it difficult to fight climate change and weakens the resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change. Significantly, the determination of the accumulation zones of microplastics in the ocean and the coastal waters by numerical modeling is necessary for coastal management plans. Microplastic particle settling velocity is an important parameter that directly affects the accuracy of the transport models and, thus, the success of the management plans.
The project aims to contribute to the title of "Investigation of Factors Affecting Water Ecosystems, Including Climate Change, Mitigation, and Sustainability of Water Management Models and Developing Solutions to Contribute to Restoration" in the TUBITAK's priority areas for R&D and Innovation Issues within the scope of harmonization with the European Green Deal.