Engineering Imaging and Supercomputer Prediction of Biofluid Flows. The potential of the information gained from the lung imaging for improving the diagnosis and monitoring of adult respiratory diseases, such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, is enormous. Abnormalities in the structure and function of the kidney circulation are likely key factors causing hypertension, so a detailed understanding of the kidney circulation is required before we can cure or prevent hypertension. The rese ....Engineering Imaging and Supercomputer Prediction of Biofluid Flows. The potential of the information gained from the lung imaging for improving the diagnosis and monitoring of adult respiratory diseases, such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, is enormous. Abnormalities in the structure and function of the kidney circulation are likely key factors causing hypertension, so a detailed understanding of the kidney circulation is required before we can cure or prevent hypertension. The research underpinning cardiovascular and renal flows will assist in the understanding of hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which accounts for approximately 40% of all deaths in Australia and particularly high for dialysis patients. Read moreRead less
Renewable energy generation from flow-induced vibration. Much engineering effort has been expended to eliminate vibration of marine structures. This project seeks to provide the basis for the development of tidal energy harnessing, by deliberately amplifying and harnessing vibration. This technology offers the promise of capturing clean, zero-emissions energy, while presenting no risk to marine life.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISTIC MODELS FOR BUBBLY FLOWS WITH HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER. Commercially available CFD computer codes are currently widely used in many Australian industrial sectors. It is clearly recognised that the state-of-the-art models for dealing with complex bubbly flows with/without heat and mass transfer in these computer codes require further developments and improvements. This research project will address the prevalent deficiency in many of these computer codes. It is antici ....THE DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANISTIC MODELS FOR BUBBLY FLOWS WITH HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER. Commercially available CFD computer codes are currently widely used in many Australian industrial sectors. It is clearly recognised that the state-of-the-art models for dealing with complex bubbly flows with/without heat and mass transfer in these computer codes require further developments and improvements. This research project will address the prevalent deficiency in many of these computer codes. It is anticipated that through this major development of new models capable of predicting a wide range of industrial bubbly flow problems and implementation thereafter in these computer codes, industries will experience significant benefits especially reduce time and costs in their design and production.Read moreRead less
Understanding and modifying vortex structures in wind turbine wakes. At a fundamental research level, Australia's active participation in this area of national priority and research strength will be advanced through our published research, which will increase our understanding of wind turbine wakes and their effects in wind farms. This understanding will then be used to produce improved methods of predicting wind turbine performance. Such methods are needed by wind energy designers to produce b ....Understanding and modifying vortex structures in wind turbine wakes. At a fundamental research level, Australia's active participation in this area of national priority and research strength will be advanced through our published research, which will increase our understanding of wind turbine wakes and their effects in wind farms. This understanding will then be used to produce improved methods of predicting wind turbine performance. Such methods are needed by wind energy designers to produce better wind farms. It will also be used to recommend how to improve the aerodynamic design of turbine components, such as the blades and hub. Numerical tools will be developed for industry use, and training will be provided to personnel, thereby increasing the capabilities of Australia's growing wind energy industry.Read moreRead less
Measurement and Prediction of Vulnerable Plaque Formation and Rupture. The major health problem of atherosclerosis, leading to large numbers of deaths from heart attacks and strokes worldwide, will be studied by a multidisciplinary team. Better understanding of how the disease evolves and its earlier detection will arise from this project, which will use synchrotron imaging and supercomputer prediction.
Supersonic flow past micro-scale particles: Industrial applications. Droplet based materials processing has developed significantly over the last decade, with applications in a wide range of industries where high-strength, light-weight materials are critical. Our research will allow for continued progress of this method, by developing accurate models to predict the cooling rate throughout the process and hence the physical properties of the finished product. Development of this knowledge will al ....Supersonic flow past micro-scale particles: Industrial applications. Droplet based materials processing has developed significantly over the last decade, with applications in a wide range of industries where high-strength, light-weight materials are critical. Our research will allow for continued progress of this method, by developing accurate models to predict the cooling rate throughout the process and hence the physical properties of the finished product. Development of this knowledge will allow for higher precision products to be produced and allow for new techniques to be developed. This information will allow for material processing in Australia to be maintained at world class levels, and for Australian industry to continue to lead the way in the production of technologically advanced materials.Read moreRead less
The next generation of stellar models: incorporating the results of multidimensional hydrodynamics. This project involves the use of computer codes designed for massively-parallel computing, thousands of computers tied together into one cluster, to tackle difficult hydrodynamic problems that occur in stars. We will train PhD students in this area of cutting-edge computation, with applications in areas such as meteorology, aero-space and defence. The skills gained by the participants in this proj ....The next generation of stellar models: incorporating the results of multidimensional hydrodynamics. This project involves the use of computer codes designed for massively-parallel computing, thousands of computers tied together into one cluster, to tackle difficult hydrodynamic problems that occur in stars. We will train PhD students in this area of cutting-edge computation, with applications in areas such as meteorology, aero-space and defence. The skills gained by the participants in this project will be useful over a wide range of areas in the modern economy of the nation.Read moreRead less
Spectroscopy of Complex Fluids in Flow. Complex fluids are composed of polymers and nano-particles in solution. Under flow these fluids may undergo dramatic molecular and nano-particle orientational and spatial ordering that give rise to a fascinating range of rheological behaviour. This project will use state of the art fluorescence spectroscopy which is able to resolve the orientation of single molecules combined with novel rheo-optic methods to characterise flow induced ordering in these flui ....Spectroscopy of Complex Fluids in Flow. Complex fluids are composed of polymers and nano-particles in solution. Under flow these fluids may undergo dramatic molecular and nano-particle orientational and spatial ordering that give rise to a fascinating range of rheological behaviour. This project will use state of the art fluorescence spectroscopy which is able to resolve the orientation of single molecules combined with novel rheo-optic methods to characterise flow induced ordering in these fluids. The flow induced orientation, spatial distribution and nano-particle/macromolecule interactions will be quantified. Theoretical deficiencies in describing complex fluid flow will be reconciled. The experimental insight gained will be exploited to produce novel molecularly ordered materials.
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Dynamic tomography: high-resolution, four-dimensional imaging of processes. This project will develop imaging technology that allows us to collect detailed, three dimensional movies of complex, microscopic processes in a laboratory. This technology will have applications in soil science, biology, oil extraction, and carbon sequestration.
Dynamics of Interacting Bose Gases/Fluids in Atomic and Condensed Matter Systems. This research would raise the profile of Australian theoretical physics in two key areas of fundamental research. The work on correlated electron fluids will be directly related to the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect, which is used to maintain the resistance standard, with one possible outcome being the improvement of the accuracy of this standard. The work on the dynamics of dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensat ....Dynamics of Interacting Bose Gases/Fluids in Atomic and Condensed Matter Systems. This research would raise the profile of Australian theoretical physics in two key areas of fundamental research. The work on correlated electron fluids will be directly related to the breakdown of the quantum Hall effect, which is used to maintain the resistance standard, with one possible outcome being the improvement of the accuracy of this standard. The work on the dynamics of dilute gas Bose-Einstein condensates will promote understanding of such systems and propose knew methods of exploring this novel state of matter. Drawing analogies between these two diverse subjects will promote a greater understanding of both research fields. The work would be in collaboration with internationally renowned research groups.Read moreRead less