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Fluid Mechanics

27 August 2024

Fluid mechanics is an enabling technology that underpins many industrial sectors, and its applications are fundamental to addressing a wide range of societal challenges. It is central to understanding our changing climate and for developing renewable energy technologies. In the Department of Mechanical Engineering fluid mechanics research is concerned with a broad range of topics including aerodynamics, coatings and thin-film flow, spray and particle distribution, flows in heat transfer, biomedical and biological flows, flow in porous media, and drug delivery

HOW TO APPLY

Research Theme Members

Areas of Expertise

Biofluidics, Flow in porous media, Convection heat transfer

Research Interests

Drug delivery, Mathematical simulation, Compressible flow


Areas of Expertise

Aerodynamics, Fluid dynamics, Porous media fluid mechanics

Research Interests

Aerospace propulsion, Plasma-based electric propulsion, High-speed flows


Areas of Expertise

Computational fluid dynamics, moving boundary problems, non-Newtonian rheology, biofluids, inverse problems

Research Interests

Haemodynamics (blood flows), geophysics (lava flows)

Current Postgraduate Opportunities

Project Title: Characterising the biomechanical properties of blood clots

Project summary: The aim is to model (numerically and with analogue experiments) the dynamics of blood clots to improve our understanding of their biomechanical properties

Funding/stipend: ME: 22k + fees (domestic only) 

Application deadline: Apply any time


Areas of Expertise

Particle size measurement, Motion of particles and droplets in air, Measurement of fluid velocity fields, Numerical simulation of flow (CFD), Wind tunnel measurements, Particle image velocimetry (PIV), Flow imaging

Research Interests

Spray and particle distribution from aircraft (especially multirotor UAVs and helicopters), Insect flight aerodynamics, Seed dispersion aerodynamics


Areas of Expertise

Computational fluid dynamics, moving boundary problems, non-Newtonian rheology, biofluids, inverse problems

Research Interests

Haemodynamics (blood flows), geophysics (lava flows)

Current Postgraduate Opportunities

Project Title: Levitation and impact of crusty capsules

Project summary: Issue: improve the production process for milk powder. Project: Modelling the process of crust formation and its influence on the impact outcomes

Funding/stipend: Not available at this stage

Application deadline: N/A

Project Title: Breaking the cavitation barrier

Project summary: Issue: cavitation limits the performance of hydrofoils. Project: Cavitation mitigation by applying controlled blowing/suction on the surface of a hydrofoil

Funding/stipend: Not available at this stage

Application deadline: N/A

Project Title: Optimal control for spin casting

Project summary: Issue: The optimal processing parameters for a specific product are identified empirically by extensive trial and error informed by “in-house know-how”. Project: Modelling the flow of material in a mould rotating around multiple axis to optimize the distribution of material

Funding/stipend: Not available at this stage

Application deadline: N/A

Project Title: Flow in discrete fracture networks

Project summary: Issue: the flow in fracture network is difficult to understand because it involves many fractures. Project: Modelling the effects of non-Newtonian rheology and multiphase flow in discrete fracture networks for geothermal reservoirs

Funding/stipend: Not available at this stage

Application deadline: N/A

Project Title: Predicting the growth rate and detachment of electrogenerated bubbles

Project summary: Issue: when generated, the bubbles cover the electrode surface, act as an electrical insulator and thus disrupt the process. Project: Develop a comprehensive CFD model able to predict the growth and detachment rate of bubbles

Funding/stipend: Not available at this stage

Application deadline: N/A

Project Title: Predicting the shape and trajectories of lava bombs

Project summary: Issue: volcanic ballistic projectiles are a common hazard during eruptions. The trajectories of projectiles are difficult to predict because the lava deforms. Project: Develop a CFD model able to predict how the projectile rotation and deformation affects its trajectory

Funding/stipend: Not available at this stage

Application deadline: N/A


Areas of Expertise

Experiment, CFD and theoretical modelling

Research Interests

Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Aeroacoustics, Thermoacoustics


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