Horizontal convection at ocean-relevant proportions. This project aims to determine the role of buoyancy differences from solar radiation and vertical confinement. Flows created by lateral variation in heat or buoyancy are poorly understood when the horizontal length greatly exceeds the height, precisely the conditions relevant to industry and understanding the role of horizontal convection in Earth's oceans and in turn the delicate current system that maintains Earth's temperate climate. This p ....Horizontal convection at ocean-relevant proportions. This project aims to determine the role of buoyancy differences from solar radiation and vertical confinement. Flows created by lateral variation in heat or buoyancy are poorly understood when the horizontal length greatly exceeds the height, precisely the conditions relevant to industry and understanding the role of horizontal convection in Earth's oceans and in turn the delicate current system that maintains Earth's temperate climate. This project proposes computational and experimental efforts to probe the ultimate regime of heat transport in very shallow horizontal convection, benefiting humankind through improvements to future ocean and climate modelling efforts.Read moreRead less
The Mechanisms determining the Rolling Motions of Bodies. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms affecting the rolling motions of spheres and cylinders. This international project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of surface roughness, cavitation and compressibility using novel experimental and computational methods. Expected outcomes of this project include the discovery of the explicit role of surface roughness in allowing bodies to roll, the means of modifying these mo ....The Mechanisms determining the Rolling Motions of Bodies. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms affecting the rolling motions of spheres and cylinders. This international project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of surface roughness, cavitation and compressibility using novel experimental and computational methods. Expected outcomes of this project include the discovery of the explicit role of surface roughness in allowing bodies to roll, the means of modifying these motions, the wake mechanisms leading to body vibration, and the mixing induced by rolling bodies. This will provide significant benefits to the understanding of the motion of particles and bodies in a range of situations such as particle reactors and sedimentation processes.
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Bubble clouds in ocean waves. This project aims to predict the behaviour of bubble clouds in ocean waves. Bubble clouds are used in Europe to shield marine mammals from the dangerous noise of offshore wind-turbine construction, but would be dispersed by Australia's ocean swell and turbulence; and unlike in Europe, Australia's offshore-wind sites are frequented by endangered whales. Bubble clouds from breaking waves may also dissolve up to third of humanity's carbon in the ocean. Experiments and ....Bubble clouds in ocean waves. This project aims to predict the behaviour of bubble clouds in ocean waves. Bubble clouds are used in Europe to shield marine mammals from the dangerous noise of offshore wind-turbine construction, but would be dispersed by Australia's ocean swell and turbulence; and unlike in Europe, Australia's offshore-wind sites are frequented by endangered whales. Bubble clouds from breaking waves may also dissolve up to third of humanity's carbon in the ocean. Experiments and coordinated numerical simulations would predict the displacement and dispersion of bubbles in oceanic conditions. Experiments and simulations would then predict the acoustic behaviour of bubble clouds. This outcome would benefit new offshore-wind industries and climate science.Read moreRead less
Engineering an environmentally-friendly metered dose inhaler. This project aims to deliver a novel simulation framework to accurately predict the behaviour of metered dose inhaler sprays using advanced numerical methods for flash-evaporating turbulent flows developed by the investigators. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the complex physics which occur in these devices through a first of its kind combination of unsteady non-equilibrium thermodynamics, turbulence and spray models. ....Engineering an environmentally-friendly metered dose inhaler. This project aims to deliver a novel simulation framework to accurately predict the behaviour of metered dose inhaler sprays using advanced numerical methods for flash-evaporating turbulent flows developed by the investigators. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the complex physics which occur in these devices through a first of its kind combination of unsteady non-equilibrium thermodynamics, turbulence and spray models. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel ability to predict and optimise the performance of inhalers to suit environmentally-friendly replacement propellants. This will significantly benefit the pharmaceutical sector as it will accelerate the design of next-generation inhalers and propellants.Read moreRead less
Towards highly-efficient hydrogen gas turbines. The increasing interest in green hydrogen has led to a need for research and development in combustion systems that can accommodate hydrogen. One promising technology is low-emission gas turbines, which is a key player in the electricity market. However, hydrogen gas turbines are susceptible to a phenomenon called thermoacoustic instability, causing loud noise and can damage equipment. This project represents the first comprehensive study of the ef ....Towards highly-efficient hydrogen gas turbines. The increasing interest in green hydrogen has led to a need for research and development in combustion systems that can accommodate hydrogen. One promising technology is low-emission gas turbines, which is a key player in the electricity market. However, hydrogen gas turbines are susceptible to a phenomenon called thermoacoustic instability, causing loud noise and can damage equipment. This project represents the first comprehensive study of the effects of hydrogen fuel on thermoacoustic instability under conditions relevant to gas turbines. By examining low-order models, commonly used for designing gas turbines, this project can significantly advance the field and facilitate the adoption of green hydrogen as a fuel source.Read moreRead less
Understanding sperm motion at surfaces. This project aims to reveal the biophysics of sperm motion at surfaces, using 3D imaging, advanced mathematical modelling, and microfluidics. This interdisciplinary project expects to generate new knowledge of sperm flagellar activity, using an innovative microfluidic approach to measure full dynamics of sperm motion in 3D and compare experimental observations with computational results. The project is expected to reveal the intraflagellar mechanisms that ....Understanding sperm motion at surfaces. This project aims to reveal the biophysics of sperm motion at surfaces, using 3D imaging, advanced mathematical modelling, and microfluidics. This interdisciplinary project expects to generate new knowledge of sperm flagellar activity, using an innovative microfluidic approach to measure full dynamics of sperm motion in 3D and compare experimental observations with computational results. The project is expected to reveal the intraflagellar mechanisms that trigger the switch between 3D and 2D flagellar waveforms near surfaces. This should provide significant benefits, such as important insights into the biophysics of mammalian reproduction and the origin of flagellar motility in eukaryotes.Read moreRead less
Carbon in a Bubble: Cavitation in Ionic Liquids. This project aims to investigate the potential of pressure-driven phase change as an energy-efficient mechanism for removing dissolved gases from low melting point salts, by advancing understanding of the cavitation behaviour of ionic liquids. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of fluid mechanics through an innovative combination of advanced computational simulations and synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques developed by ....Carbon in a Bubble: Cavitation in Ionic Liquids. This project aims to investigate the potential of pressure-driven phase change as an energy-efficient mechanism for removing dissolved gases from low melting point salts, by advancing understanding of the cavitation behaviour of ionic liquids. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of fluid mechanics through an innovative combination of advanced computational simulations and synchrotron X-ray measurement techniques developed by the investigators. Expected outcomes of this project include expanded understanding of the physics of ionic liquids, and the ability to engineer more efficient gas separation systems. The project aims to benefit the chemical and energy sectors through improved energy efficiency.Read moreRead less
Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome i ....Harnessing sperm dynamics in microfluidic sorting technologies. Mammalian reproductive tract is a complex microenvironment that has evolved to select the best sperm for fertilisation using a range of rheological, biochemical and geometrical cues. The project aims to engineer the first multiplexed platform, informed by the natural process, for fully automated and rapid selection of sperm based on all key selection criteria: morphology, swimming behaviour, and DNA integrity. The expected outcome is the next generation technology for sperm sorting and analysis. This should provide significant benefits, such as new biophysical insights into mammalian reproduction, with potential for future improvement of assisted reproduction technologies – a field in which Australia has a world leading history.Read moreRead less
Advanced Combustion Modelling for Scramjets and Rotating Detonation Engines. This project will develop new fundamental knowledge and engineering models underpinning air-breathing high speed propulsion engines employing complex hydrocarbon fuels. Extensive data and new physical understanding will be garnered through analysis of direct numerical simulations of supersonic reacting mixing layers including impinging shock waves. That data will be employed to isolate, test and develop computationally ....Advanced Combustion Modelling for Scramjets and Rotating Detonation Engines. This project will develop new fundamental knowledge and engineering models underpinning air-breathing high speed propulsion engines employing complex hydrocarbon fuels. Extensive data and new physical understanding will be garnered through analysis of direct numerical simulations of supersonic reacting mixing layers including impinging shock waves. That data will be employed to isolate, test and develop computationally efficient engineering models that are accurate and efficient for high speed combustion in rotating detonation engines and scramjets. Expected outcomes are knowledge and tools needed to develop practical and effective supersonic propulsion engines for access to space, defence and high speed point-to-point flight.
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Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcome ....Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcomes include the development of a new instrument and fundamental knowledge leading to improved designs with higher efficiencies in power generation and transport, resulting in significant benefits such as increased energy security, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved quality of life for individuals and society.Read moreRead less