The elusive upper bound of heat transfer in horizontal convection. The question as to whether lateral variation in global ocean buoyancy resulting from low solar radiation near the poles and higher temperatures in the tropical regions (known as horizontal convection) is a driver for global ocean currents is critical to our understanding of this complex and delicate system that maintains Earth's temperate climate. This question hinges on the relationship between heat transport and strength of buo ....The elusive upper bound of heat transfer in horizontal convection. The question as to whether lateral variation in global ocean buoyancy resulting from low solar radiation near the poles and higher temperatures in the tropical regions (known as horizontal convection) is a driver for global ocean currents is critical to our understanding of this complex and delicate system that maintains Earth's temperate climate. This question hinges on the relationship between heat transport and strength of buoyancy forcing towards global scales; this project proposes a landmark experimental effort supported by detailed simulations to probe the ultimate regime of heat transport in horizontal convection. The project is expected to inform the direction of future ocean and climate modelling efforts to the benefit of humanity.Read moreRead less
Transition of thermal boundary layers on heated flat and curved surfaces. This project aims to study the laminar to turbulent transition of the thermal boundary layer (TBL). The state of the TBL determines the heat transfer rate and energy efficiency of natural convection heat exchangers and heat dissipation systems. The intended outcome is to understand the TBL’s transitional behaviour and develop effective strategies for stimulating TBL transition to enhance heat transfer. This project will de ....Transition of thermal boundary layers on heated flat and curved surfaces. This project aims to study the laminar to turbulent transition of the thermal boundary layer (TBL). The state of the TBL determines the heat transfer rate and energy efficiency of natural convection heat exchangers and heat dissipation systems. The intended outcome is to understand the TBL’s transitional behaviour and develop effective strategies for stimulating TBL transition to enhance heat transfer. This project will develop a high-resolution, low-cost and easy-to-implement three-dimensional volumetric flow measurement technique based on stereoscopic shadowgraph and use it to study the TBL transition. This technique should provide a powerful tool for fluid mechanics and heat transfer research.Read moreRead less
The dynamics of turbulent entrainment in sheared convective boundary layers. This project aims to develop general laws to enable the accurate prediction of boundary layer entrainment processes. This will be significant in a wide range of environmental and engineering applications. In particular, the current lack of understanding of this area is a major source of uncertainty in the latest generation of global climate models.
On the mechanism of boiling instability in microchannels. This project will enable designers to create highly efficient miniaturised devices based on the boiling of fluids such as water or organics. These devices include micro-power generation systems, coolers for computer chips and solar collectors, and micro-chemical process systems. Such devices provide environmental, safety and economic benefits.
Dynamics and control of fluid-structure-free surface interactions. This project aims to research the apparently opposing effects of vortex shedding and free surface damping, individually and jointly, and the control or excitation of the vibrations for two generic bluff bodies: the cylinder and the sphere. Flow-induced vibrations of bluff bodies under or piercing water surfaces can damage floating off-shore marine structures and tethered bodies. On the other hand, harvesting energy from ocean cur ....Dynamics and control of fluid-structure-free surface interactions. This project aims to research the apparently opposing effects of vortex shedding and free surface damping, individually and jointly, and the control or excitation of the vibrations for two generic bluff bodies: the cylinder and the sphere. Flow-induced vibrations of bluff bodies under or piercing water surfaces can damage floating off-shore marine structures and tethered bodies. On the other hand, harvesting energy from ocean currents needs large flow-induced vibrations. The intended outcomes are new modes of body vibration, wake transitions and means to control fluid-structure interactions. This research could benefit many processes in offshore marine engineering, submarine bodies and mixing vessels, where understanding and controlling fluid-structure interactions of bluff bodies can mitigate costly and dangerous induced vibrations.Read moreRead less
Wake Transitions and Fluid-Structure Interactions of Rotating Bluff Bodies. Flow-induced vibrations of bluff bodies can lead to severe damage in many applications, such as off-shore marine structures and tethered bodies. Rotation of bluff bodies can result in huge increases in lift forces, which may promote these vibrations, whereas a nearby free surface may stabilise the vibrations. This project aims to discover the mechanisms underpinning the apparently opposing effects of vibration and free s ....Wake Transitions and Fluid-Structure Interactions of Rotating Bluff Bodies. Flow-induced vibrations of bluff bodies can lead to severe damage in many applications, such as off-shore marine structures and tethered bodies. Rotation of bluff bodies can result in huge increases in lift forces, which may promote these vibrations, whereas a nearby free surface may stabilise the vibrations. This project aims to discover the mechanisms underpinning the apparently opposing effects of vibration and free surface, individually and jointly, and the excitation of two- and three-dimensional instabilities in the wakes of two generic bluff bodies: the cylinder and the sphere. The expected outcomes are the discovery of new modes of body vibration, wake transitions and means to control fluid-structure interactions.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of bluff body interactions with walls. Spherical bodies are continually impacting or rolling on solid surfaces, from leukocytes to dust grains to golf balls, and larger. A joint Australian-French team will pioneer new research on the flow and mixing created by these bodies and understand the role these play in important commercial and environmental flows.
Biotransport design for engineering microenvironment in scaffolds. Tissue engineering signifies an exciting opportunity to solve shortage of transplantable tissues. This project targets a critical issue in engineering thick tissue and aims to introduce computational structural optimisation to biotransport problems. The optimal scaffold is expected to create a more desirable microenvironment for better tissue growth.
A coupled finite volume method for viscoelastic flow problems on highly-skewed unstructured meshes: a computational rheology revolution. Commercial tools are unavailable for 21st century industry to analyse complex flow processes involving viscoelastic materials. Using fabrication of microstructured polymer optical fibre as a key case study, a coupled finite volume methodology holds the key for the next generation of computational rheology simulators.
Methodologies for resolving high Rayleigh number transitions in convection and elucidating instabilities in polar vortices. This project will develop new methods for modeling complex rotating convection flows such as polar vortices found in the Antarctic atmosphere. This work has the potential to provide insight into important physical processes impacting Australian and global weather patterns, which is crucial for understanding the evolution of our climate.