Understanding and modifying vortex structures in wind turbine wakes. At a fundamental research level, Australia's active participation in this area of national priority and research strength will be advanced through our published research, which will increase our understanding of wind turbine wakes and their effects in wind farms. This understanding will then be used to produce improved methods of predicting wind turbine performance. Such methods are needed by wind energy designers to produce b ....Understanding and modifying vortex structures in wind turbine wakes. At a fundamental research level, Australia's active participation in this area of national priority and research strength will be advanced through our published research, which will increase our understanding of wind turbine wakes and their effects in wind farms. This understanding will then be used to produce improved methods of predicting wind turbine performance. Such methods are needed by wind energy designers to produce better wind farms. It will also be used to recommend how to improve the aerodynamic design of turbine components, such as the blades and hub. Numerical tools will be developed for industry use, and training will be provided to personnel, thereby increasing the capabilities of Australia's growing wind energy industry.Read moreRead less
The fluid mechanics of dynamically constricted tubes in pulsatile flow. This project is aimed at advancing the fundamental understanding of flow instability, the transition to turbulence and the effect on wall shear stress, in a dynamically constricted tube flow. The project will provide the first accurately resolved experimental flow analysis, using tomographic particle imaging velocimetry and 3D laser doppler anemometry, conducted on a novel experimental model, and will resolve, for the first ....The fluid mechanics of dynamically constricted tubes in pulsatile flow. This project is aimed at advancing the fundamental understanding of flow instability, the transition to turbulence and the effect on wall shear stress, in a dynamically constricted tube flow. The project will provide the first accurately resolved experimental flow analysis, using tomographic particle imaging velocimetry and 3D laser doppler anemometry, conducted on a novel experimental model, and will resolve, for the first time, turbulence characteristics of the dynamic constriction, using direct numerical simulation with a novel moving boundary implementation. The outcomes will provide the key link between fluid mechanics and wall shear stress, allowing future progress to be made in elucidating the causes of cardiovascular disease.
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Scaling laws for aerodynamics of moving wings in the Martian atmosphere. This project aims to increase understanding of the aerodynamics of bio-inspired flight in the low-density atmosphere of Mars. The significance of flight in planetary exploration is shown by the ongoing success of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, and the Dragonfly rotorcraft planned for use on Titan. Expected outcomes of this project will be innovative numerical modelling techniques validated using local specially designed ....Scaling laws for aerodynamics of moving wings in the Martian atmosphere. This project aims to increase understanding of the aerodynamics of bio-inspired flight in the low-density atmosphere of Mars. The significance of flight in planetary exploration is shown by the ongoing success of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, and the Dragonfly rotorcraft planned for use on Titan. Expected outcomes of this project will be innovative numerical modelling techniques validated using local specially designed low-pressure experimental facilities. Benefits will be more accurate design guidance for efficient and robust flapping and rotary wing robotic vehicles for Mars and other space exploration that take advantage of the unique atmospheric conditions, and in placing Australia at the forefront of such design technology.Read moreRead less
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 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
Electrohydrodynamically-Driven Microcentrifugation for Microfluidic Applications. Microfluidics has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Imagine portable pocket sized devices for cheap and rapid medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Or miniaturised chemical/biological sensors as early warning detection systems against terrorist threats. The research is thus intended to not only commercially benefit various industries, but also to improve the quality of life as a whole by making medic ....Electrohydrodynamically-Driven Microcentrifugation for Microfluidic Applications. Microfluidics has the potential to revolutionise the way we live. Imagine portable pocket sized devices for cheap and rapid medical diagnostics and drug delivery. Or miniaturised chemical/biological sensors as early warning detection systems against terrorist threats. The research is thus intended to not only commercially benefit various industries, but also to improve the quality of life as a whole by making medical diagnosis or chemical/biological detection more readily accessible, portable and more efficient. Moreover, the fundamental studies, aimed at generating an understanding of the complex physics involved, has generic benefits to researchers in applied physics as well as providing practical protocols for microdevice development.Read moreRead less
Novel framework for optimising battery-cooling microchannel heat exchangers. Thermal overheating can affect the capacity, safety and life expectancy of batteries for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles. Microscale heat exchangers are a potential high-efficiency, low-bulk solution. This project aims to develop a novel computational methodology to optimise the design of those heat exchangers in which viscoelastic fluids are used to control flow instabilities and enhance heat transfer at ....Novel framework for optimising battery-cooling microchannel heat exchangers. Thermal overheating can affect the capacity, safety and life expectancy of batteries for renewable energy storage and electric vehicles. Microscale heat exchangers are a potential high-efficiency, low-bulk solution. This project aims to develop a novel computational methodology to optimise the design of those heat exchangers in which viscoelastic fluids are used to control flow instabilities and enhance heat transfer at the microscale. A new microscopic fluid physics model will provide data for an innovative neural network framework to optimise the working fluid conditions and microscale design, which could contribute to increased adoption of renewable energy technologies that are supported by microscale heat exchangers.Read moreRead less
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
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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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