Prediction of inertial particle focusing in curved microfluidic ducts. This project aims to develop mathematical models to predict migration of particles suspended in flow through curved microfluidic ducts and their focusing by size to different regions in the cross-section of the duct. New knowledge in mathematics and engineering will be generated through models that capture the two-way force balance between fluid and particles and by a novel use of asymptotics for computational efficiency. Exp ....Prediction of inertial particle focusing in curved microfluidic ducts. This project aims to develop mathematical models to predict migration of particles suspended in flow through curved microfluidic ducts and their focusing by size to different regions in the cross-section of the duct. New knowledge in mathematics and engineering will be generated through models that capture the two-way force balance between fluid and particles and by a novel use of asymptotics for computational efficiency. Expected outcomes are understanding of the physics that drives particle migration and the parameters that may be used to control particle focusing. This will benefit design and operation of microfluidic devices for particle sorting as required for "liquid biopsy", the isolation of cancer cells in a routine blood sample.Read moreRead less
Accurate modelling of large multiscale dynamical systems for engineering and scientific simulation and analysis. In current modelling the underlying microscopic mechanisms are known, but the closures to translate microscale knowledge to a system level macroscopic description are rarely available. The project's computational methodologies will circumvent this stumbling block to radically change the modelling, exploration and understanding of complex systems.
Modeling, Mathematical Analysis, and Computation of Multiscale Systems. This project develops and implements a systematic approach, both analytic and computational, to extract compact, accurate, system level models of complex physical and engineering systems. Our wide ranging methodology is to construct computationally efficient "wrappers" around fine scale, microscopic, detailed descriptions of dynamical systems (particle or molecular simulation, or PDE or lattice equations). Comprehensively a ....Modeling, Mathematical Analysis, and Computation of Multiscale Systems. This project develops and implements a systematic approach, both analytic and computational, to extract compact, accurate, system level models of complex physical and engineering systems. Our wide ranging methodology is to construct computationally efficient "wrappers" around fine scale, microscopic, detailed descriptions of dynamical systems (particle or molecular simulation, or PDE or lattice equations). Comprehensively accounting for multiscale interactions between subgrid processes among macroscale variations ensures stability and accuracy. Based on dynamical systems theory and analysis, our approach will empower systematic analysis and understanding for optimal macroscopic simulation for forthcoming exascale computing. Read moreRead less
Complex Multiscale Systems: Modeling, Analysis and Scientific Computation. This project aims to develop and implement a systematic approach, both analytic and computational, to extract compact, accurate, system level models of complex physical and engineering systems. The wide ranging methodology is to construct computationally efficient "wrappers" around fine scale, microscopic, detailed descriptions of dynamical systems (particle or molecular simulation, or partial differential equations or la ....Complex Multiscale Systems: Modeling, Analysis and Scientific Computation. This project aims to develop and implement a systematic approach, both analytic and computational, to extract compact, accurate, system level models of complex physical and engineering systems. The wide ranging methodology is to construct computationally efficient "wrappers" around fine scale, microscopic, detailed descriptions of dynamical systems (particle or molecular simulation, or partial differential equations or lattice equations). Comprehensively accounting for multiscale interactions between subgrid processes among macroscale variations ensures stability and accuracy. Based on dynamical systems theory and analysis, this approach is expected to empower systematic analysis and understanding for optimal macroscopic simulation for forthcoming exascale computing.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling of systems with complex microscale detail. In modern science and engineering many complex systems are described by distinctly different microscale physical models within different regions of space. This project is to develop systematic mathematical and computational methods for the compact and accurate macroscale modelling and computation of such systems for application in industrial research and development. Our sparse simulations, justified with mathematical analysis, use ....Multiscale modelling of systems with complex microscale detail. In modern science and engineering many complex systems are described by distinctly different microscale physical models within different regions of space. This project is to develop systematic mathematical and computational methods for the compact and accurate macroscale modelling and computation of such systems for application in industrial research and development. Our sparse simulations, justified with mathematical analysis, use small bursts of particle/agent simulations, PDEs, or difference equations, to efficiently evaluate macroscale system-level behaviour. The objective is to accurately interface between disparate microscale models and establish provable predictions on how the microscale parameter spaces resolve at the macroscale.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling of systems with complex microscale detail. This project aims to develop systematic mathematical and computational methods for the compact and accurate macroscale modelling of systems with microscopic irregular details. The methodology, justified with mathematical analysis and computation, uses small bursts of particle/agent simulations, partial differential equation (PDEs), or difference equations, to efficiently predict macroscale behaviour. This project’s mathematical meth ....Multiscale modelling of systems with complex microscale detail. This project aims to develop systematic mathematical and computational methods for the compact and accurate macroscale modelling of systems with microscopic irregular details. The methodology, justified with mathematical analysis and computation, uses small bursts of particle/agent simulations, partial differential equation (PDEs), or difference equations, to efficiently predict macroscale behaviour. This project’s mathematical methodology aims to efficiently and accurately extract and simulate the collective dynamics which emerge on macroscales, leading to improved prediction and understanding of the significant features of these complex systems at the scale relevant to engineers and scientists.Read moreRead less
Pattern formation of precursor films: a new mathematical model. This project aims to develop a new mathematical model to predict the pattern formation of a new class of permanent lubricants. Ionic liquids are conductive and do not evaporate, creating a unique opportunity to develop such coatings. These thin films form patterns where the pattern type (patches, stripes or holes) depends on the liquid/surface interaction. Only some patterns result in good lubrication; current limited understanding ....Pattern formation of precursor films: a new mathematical model. This project aims to develop a new mathematical model to predict the pattern formation of a new class of permanent lubricants. Ionic liquids are conductive and do not evaporate, creating a unique opportunity to develop such coatings. These thin films form patterns where the pattern type (patches, stripes or holes) depends on the liquid/surface interaction. Only some patterns result in good lubrication; current limited understanding of the pattern formation process hampers selection of a good lubricant for a chosen material. Current mathematical approaches are computationally expensive and time consuming. The new model expected from this project would provide a cheap, fast and reliable alternative for screening suitable liquid/surface pairs.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.
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
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