Genesis and evolution of coherent structures in wall-bounded turbulence. This project aims to capture conditions responsible for the generation of the coherent structures that are formed in wall-bounded turbulent flows, through the use of variational data assimilation and adjoint-based optimisation techniques. The project is expected to provide knowledge and intellectual property that is essential for the accurate modelling and prediction of the interaction between the ground-level activities li ....Genesis and evolution of coherent structures in wall-bounded turbulence. This project aims to capture conditions responsible for the generation of the coherent structures that are formed in wall-bounded turbulent flows, through the use of variational data assimilation and adjoint-based optimisation techniques. The project is expected to provide knowledge and intellectual property that is essential for the accurate modelling and prediction of the interaction between the ground-level activities like pollutant emissions and the atmosphere and the flow over vehicles through pipes, turbines and compressors. This project will provide benefits such as reducing the risk in environmental and commercial design and decision making and will facilitate new opportunities for the commercial development of devices to reduce drag and enhance mixing and heat transfer via the direct manipulation of coherent structures.Read moreRead less
Dynamics of Suppressed Mixing Regimes in Australian Rivers. This study aims to further the fundamental science of turbulent mixing in the context of flow in Australian rivers. The focus is on prolonged low flow conditions which when coupled with warm surface temperatures cause the water column to become thermally stratified which then suppresses turbulent mixing. The extreme scale of the river systems has made investigating the true dynamics of the strongly stratified mixing regimes particularly ....Dynamics of Suppressed Mixing Regimes in Australian Rivers. This study aims to further the fundamental science of turbulent mixing in the context of flow in Australian rivers. The focus is on prolonged low flow conditions which when coupled with warm surface temperatures cause the water column to become thermally stratified which then suppresses turbulent mixing. The extreme scale of the river systems has made investigating the true dynamics of the strongly stratified mixing regimes particularly challenging. By taking world first in-situ measurements of turbulent mixing and undertaking high resolution numerical simulations this study will provide definitive data which will allow correct characterization of the mixing regimes and how they are associated with river flow conditions.Read moreRead less
Structural transitions in turbulent fluids and plasma through self-organization. Studies into structural transitions in turbulent systems will greatly benefit Australia through its contributions to the science of complex systems, in the areas of self-organization and turbulence control. Applications range from understanding the formation of the Earth's atmospheric spectrum to generation of transport barriers in magnetically confined plasma, as well as development of novel methods of turbulence c ....Structural transitions in turbulent fluids and plasma through self-organization. Studies into structural transitions in turbulent systems will greatly benefit Australia through its contributions to the science of complex systems, in the areas of self-organization and turbulence control. Applications range from understanding the formation of the Earth's atmospheric spectrum to generation of transport barriers in magnetically confined plasma, as well as development of novel methods of turbulence control in engineering. Recent discoveries by the authors open a window of opportunity for a breakthrough in this fundamental field of modern science. The project is based on several national and international collaborations. Australian postgraduate and research training is an integral part of the project.Read moreRead less
Sensitivity and Change in the Global Ocean Overturning. The dynamics of the global, deep overturning circulation in the oceans and the way this adjusts to increasing greenhouse forcing will be examined in order to improve our conceptual knowledge of the oceans and the accuracy of climate models. By understanding how the ocean responds to changing surface heat and freshwater fluxes, and particularly the global role of rapid changes in high-latitude seas, we aim to help refine estimates of climate ....Sensitivity and Change in the Global Ocean Overturning. The dynamics of the global, deep overturning circulation in the oceans and the way this adjusts to increasing greenhouse forcing will be examined in order to improve our conceptual knowledge of the oceans and the accuracy of climate models. By understanding how the ocean responds to changing surface heat and freshwater fluxes, and particularly the global role of rapid changes in high-latitude seas, we aim to help refine estimates of climate response times and the warming expected for a given increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases. These two important characteristics of the climate system underlie climate change policy decisions.Read moreRead less
WAKE FLOWS WITH UPSTREAM TURBULENCE IN MARINE, ATMOSPHERIC AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. Through improved understanding of turbulent wakes the project will have applications across aeronautics and hydrodynamics, leading to more efficient engineering designs to reduce flow drag. In marine environments our findings will improve coastal ocean models and the prediction of pollutant dispersal, nutrient fluxes and sediment transport, and contribute to the management of biological productivity (NRP 1.5). In ....WAKE FLOWS WITH UPSTREAM TURBULENCE IN MARINE, ATMOSPHERIC AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. Through improved understanding of turbulent wakes the project will have applications across aeronautics and hydrodynamics, leading to more efficient engineering designs to reduce flow drag. In marine environments our findings will improve coastal ocean models and the prediction of pollutant dispersal, nutrient fluxes and sediment transport, and contribute to the management of biological productivity (NRP 1.5). In the atmospheric boundary layer, the results will assist planners to improve wind environments near large buildings or clusters of buildings, benefiting the safety of aircraft at takeoff and landing. The project will develop collaboration and help maintain the strength of Australian research in environmental flows.Read moreRead less
From The Ocean Depths To Abrupt Climate Change - Missing Processes In The Global Overturning Circulation. The overturning circulation of the oceans is a driver of large and surprisingly abrupt climate shifts. We aim to understand the factors that control the rate of overturning, and whether it might soon slow down or cease owing to global warming. We also aim to resolve one of the biggest conundrums in oceanography by reconciling theoretical and measured rates of mixing in the deep ocean. Improv ....From The Ocean Depths To Abrupt Climate Change - Missing Processes In The Global Overturning Circulation. The overturning circulation of the oceans is a driver of large and surprisingly abrupt climate shifts. We aim to understand the factors that control the rate of overturning, and whether it might soon slow down or cease owing to global warming. We also aim to resolve one of the biggest conundrums in oceanography by reconciling theoretical and measured rates of mixing in the deep ocean. Improved knowledge of deep ocean dynamics, particularly in the Southern Ocean, will help us gauge the likely nature and pace of imminent climate changes in the Australian region, an essential step in assessing the impacts on water resources, ecosystems, agriculture, and energy demands. The research will add to a major new initiative in marine science at ANU.Read moreRead less
New method of remote characterization of hydrocarbon films on the ocean surface through studies of wave turbulence. Development of a novel method of remote characterization of oil films on the sea surface will help early detection of oil spills in environmental monitoring. It will also be used for detection of naturally occurring oil seeps in the oil exploration on the sea shelf. The project addresses the national research priority of Environmentally Sustainable Australia and the priority goal o ....New method of remote characterization of hydrocarbon films on the ocean surface through studies of wave turbulence. Development of a novel method of remote characterization of oil films on the sea surface will help early detection of oil spills in environmental monitoring. It will also be used for detection of naturally occurring oil seeps in the oil exploration on the sea shelf. The project addresses the national research priority of Environmentally Sustainable Australia and the priority goal of developing deep earth resources. Australian industry will greatly benefit from the outcome of the project. These studies will also help advancing Australia's position at the forefront of remote sensing research. Australian undergraduate, postgraduate and research training is an integral part of the project.Read moreRead less
Flow generation on the water surface. This project focuses on the efficient use of the energy of surface waves. It has been found recently that energy of surface waves can be converted and stored in the horizontal water motion near the surface. This project aims to develop new technologies to harness wave energy, including a novel method of accumulating the energy of random waves into a stationary surface flow and novel methods of manipulating floating objects by sending surface waves. This may ....Flow generation on the water surface. This project focuses on the efficient use of the energy of surface waves. It has been found recently that energy of surface waves can be converted and stored in the horizontal water motion near the surface. This project aims to develop new technologies to harness wave energy, including a novel method of accumulating the energy of random waves into a stationary surface flow and novel methods of manipulating floating objects by sending surface waves. This may help to stop the spread of surface pollutants or attract floating objects by sending waves towards them, and may help us to understand how rip currents are formed on the beach.Read moreRead less
Transport control in multi-species fluid suspensions. This project aims to develop novel methods of controlling multi-species particles in fluid suspensions, such as microorganisms in wounds. Physical methods of control offer additional opportunities for wound healing in the era of increased microbial resistance to antibiotics. The project will develop methods of controlling the local concentration of microorganisms, such as bacteria and cells, using wave-driven turbulent transport and active sy ....Transport control in multi-species fluid suspensions. This project aims to develop novel methods of controlling multi-species particles in fluid suspensions, such as microorganisms in wounds. Physical methods of control offer additional opportunities for wound healing in the era of increased microbial resistance to antibiotics. The project will develop methods of controlling the local concentration of microorganisms, such as bacteria and cells, using wave-driven turbulent transport and active synthetic agents. The proposed methods will also benefit applications in microfluidics, liquid metamaterials, micro-assembly and technologies for cleaning liquid surfaces. The project will advance our fundamental knowledge of particle interaction with matter waves.Read moreRead less
Passive and active swimmers in complex flows. Strong interest in the motion of active swimmers in turbulent flows is triggered by problems such as sea search and rescue algorithms or diffusion of microorganisms in aquatic environments. For example, the patchiness in the distribution of phytoplankton can be related to the exposure of the microorganisms to turbulent flows. Recent progress in laboratory modelling of turbulence and the fabrication of artificial swimmers using Janus particles makes i ....Passive and active swimmers in complex flows. Strong interest in the motion of active swimmers in turbulent flows is triggered by problems such as sea search and rescue algorithms or diffusion of microorganisms in aquatic environments. For example, the patchiness in the distribution of phytoplankton can be related to the exposure of the microorganisms to turbulent flows. Recent progress in laboratory modelling of turbulence and the fabrication of artificial swimmers using Janus particles makes it possible to study these processes in the laboratory. This project is intended to undertake the first such study. The project is expected to help understand the impact of particle motility on turbulent dispersion.Read moreRead less