Suspension flows and particle focusing in curved geometries. The project aims to develop fast predictive tools to investigate suspension flows in curved channels and thin ducts and the effect of channel geometry on the focusing of particles by weight to different regions of the channel. Interaction between particles and fluid in suspension flows is a fundamental problem that is little understood but which is important in a wide range of problems in nature and industry (eg for design of microscal ....Suspension flows and particle focusing in curved geometries. The project aims to develop fast predictive tools to investigate suspension flows in curved channels and thin ducts and the effect of channel geometry on the focusing of particles by weight to different regions of the channel. Interaction between particles and fluid in suspension flows is a fundamental problem that is little understood but which is important in a wide range of problems in nature and industry (eg for design of microscale segregation devices for separation of different cells in a blood sample, and of macroscale devices for separation of mineral particles from crushed ore). At present, the description of these processes is qualitative, with quantitative understanding seen as a challenge without intensive computation. The project plans to develop, solve and validate mathematical models to give a quantitative understanding of these processes.Read moreRead less
Uncertainties in coherent transport of particles and intrinsic properties. This Project aims to quantify the uncertainty of a model output in terms of uncertainties in modelling assumptions, by developing new mathematical techniques and applying them to real-world data. This will be in the context of assessing the accuracy of tracking coherently moving structures (e.g., hurricanes, oceanic biodiversity hotspots, pollutant patches, insect swarms) from experimental/observational data sets. Novel, ....Uncertainties in coherent transport of particles and intrinsic properties. This Project aims to quantify the uncertainty of a model output in terms of uncertainties in modelling assumptions, by developing new mathematical techniques and applying them to real-world data. This will be in the context of assessing the accuracy of tracking coherently moving structures (e.g., hurricanes, oceanic biodiversity hotspots, pollutant patches, insect swarms) from experimental/observational data sets. Novel, data-tested, mathematical methods for uncertainty quantification of coherent structures will be developed as Project outcomes. Project benefits include new insights into protecting the environment, improved uncertainty quantification in climate modelling, and the generation of interdisciplinary knowledge and training.Read moreRead less
Multiscale Singularly Perturbed Control Systems. We propose to develop a unified averaging technique to analyse deterministic and stochastic multiscale singularly perturbed control systems. Such systems arise as mathematical models of real-world dynamical systems in which state variables can change their values with the rates of different orders of magnitude. The technique is based on the assumption that the system, which would describe the dynamics of the fast state variables if slow ones were ....Multiscale Singularly Perturbed Control Systems. We propose to develop a unified averaging technique to analyse deterministic and stochastic multiscale singularly perturbed control systems. Such systems arise as mathematical models of real-world dynamical systems in which state variables can change their values with the rates of different orders of magnitude. The technique is based on the assumption that the system, which would describe the dynamics of the fast state variables if slow ones were frozen, possesses certain ergodicity properties expressed in the existence of its limit occupational measures set. Conditions for the existence of such a set will be studied and its structure will be described.Read moreRead less
Two-price quantitative finance. This project aims to establish a novel field, namely two-price quantitative finance, and explore its applications. The new field will integrate two major schools for modelling and explain the presence of two prices, the buying and selling prices, widely observed in the real-world markets, and the equilibrium approach from the fundamental law of one price. The outcomes would deepen our understanding of the fundamental relationship among liquidity, prices, risk and ....Two-price quantitative finance. This project aims to establish a novel field, namely two-price quantitative finance, and explore its applications. The new field will integrate two major schools for modelling and explain the presence of two prices, the buying and selling prices, widely observed in the real-world markets, and the equilibrium approach from the fundamental law of one price. The outcomes would deepen our understanding of the fundamental relationship among liquidity, prices, risk and the economy. This project expects to bring about long-term impact on quantitative finance and related applications through providing a deep understanding of, and a new perspective for, the design, risk and fairness of the finance, property and insurance markets.Read moreRead less
Flow structures and transport: predictability and control. Moving flow structures (the boundary of an eddy, the flow interface between two fluids) are crucial in fluid mixing and in the transport of heat, pollutants and nutrients. This project will analyse their roles in improving predictions of spreading extents and rates for geophysical-scale problems, and in controlling transport at the micro-scale. Inaccuracies in currently available numerical diagnostics for transport prediction will be com ....Flow structures and transport: predictability and control. Moving flow structures (the boundary of an eddy, the flow interface between two fluids) are crucial in fluid mixing and in the transport of heat, pollutants and nutrients. This project will analyse their roles in improving predictions of spreading extents and rates for geophysical-scale problems, and in controlling transport at the micro-scale. Inaccuracies in currently available numerical diagnostics for transport prediction will be comprehensively evaluated via comparison with recent exact models. Analytical methods for quantifying transport under unsteady flow protocols will be developed, and used to answer questions on controlling transport in microfluidic applications in conjunction with experimentalists.Read moreRead less
Decomposition and Duality: New Approaches to Integer and Stochastic Integer Programming. Because of their rich modelling capabilities, integer programs are widely used in industry for decision making and planning. However their solution algorithms do not have the maturity of their cousins in convex optimisation, where the theory of strong duality is ubiquitous. Efficient methods for convex optimisation under uncertainty do not apply to the integer case, which is highly non-convex. Furthermore, i ....Decomposition and Duality: New Approaches to Integer and Stochastic Integer Programming. Because of their rich modelling capabilities, integer programs are widely used in industry for decision making and planning. However their solution algorithms do not have the maturity of their cousins in convex optimisation, where the theory of strong duality is ubiquitous. Efficient methods for convex optimisation under uncertainty do not apply to the integer case, which is highly non-convex. Furthermore, integer models usually assume the data is known with certainty, which is often not the case in the real world. This project will develop new theory and algorithms to enhance the analysis of integer models, including those that incorporating uncertainty, while also enabling the use of parallel computing paradigms. Read moreRead less
A Novel Geometric Approach to Shocks in Reaction-Nonlinear Diffusion Models. Reaction-nonlinear diffusion models play a vital role in the study of cell migration and population dynamics. However, the presence of aggregation, or backward diffusion, leads to the formation of shock waves - distinct, sharp interfaces between different populations of densities of cells - and the breakdown of the model. This project will develop new geometric methods to explain the formation and temporal evolution of ....A Novel Geometric Approach to Shocks in Reaction-Nonlinear Diffusion Models. Reaction-nonlinear diffusion models play a vital role in the study of cell migration and population dynamics. However, the presence of aggregation, or backward diffusion, leads to the formation of shock waves - distinct, sharp interfaces between different populations of densities of cells - and the breakdown of the model. This project will develop new geometric methods to explain the formation and temporal evolution of these shock waves, while simultaneously unifying existing regularisation techniques under a single, geometric banner. It will devise innovative tools in singular perturbation theory and stability analysis that will identify key parameters in the creation of shock waves, as well as their dynamic behaviour.Read moreRead less
Fuzzy modelling and design of complex networked systems. This project aims to develop analysis and synthesis approaches for non-linear networked control systems, including modelling, stability analysis and design problems. The non-linear effects and analysis of networked control systems have received considerable attention because of the universal existence of nonlinearities in practice. Network-based non-linear systems are widely used but face problems from non-linearities and networks. This pr ....Fuzzy modelling and design of complex networked systems. This project aims to develop analysis and synthesis approaches for non-linear networked control systems, including modelling, stability analysis and design problems. The non-linear effects and analysis of networked control systems have received considerable attention because of the universal existence of nonlinearities in practice. Network-based non-linear systems are widely used but face problems from non-linearities and networks. This project will establish a software-based nonlinear networked control system platform to test the presented algorithms and strengthen the scenarios in applications. This project is expected to increase Australian excellence in cyber-security and advanced manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Root-to-shoot: modeling the salt stress response of a plant vascular system. Salt and drought are the two major abiotic stresses affecting crop plant health, growth and development. We aim to understand salt and water transport in plants and the physiological effects of soil salinity. Using biophysical models, we will quantify the movement of salt through plant organs, tissues and cells, from root to leaf. We aim to answer the question of how salt moves across the different tissues and major org ....Root-to-shoot: modeling the salt stress response of a plant vascular system. Salt and drought are the two major abiotic stresses affecting crop plant health, growth and development. We aim to understand salt and water transport in plants and the physiological effects of soil salinity. Using biophysical models, we will quantify the movement of salt through plant organs, tissues and cells, from root to leaf. We aim to answer the question of how salt moves across the different tissues and major organs, how salt accumulates in root, leaf and shoot cells, and how movement and accumulation is controlled by the diversity of transport mechanisms operating in plants. We aim to quantify tissue tolerance, osmotic tolerance and ionic tolerance and discover new mechanisms by which plants can stave off the effect of salt stress.Read moreRead less
Paving the way: an experimental approach to the mathematical modelling and design of permeable pavements. The intelligent use of permeable pavements will enable restoration of degraded land corridors. Collection and treatment of stormwater via filtration through porous media will improve water quality in urban environments and will also control flooding. The integration of ecology and urban living will present a revolutionary way to revitalize cities.