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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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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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
Structural Reliability of Engineering Structures in Cyclonic Winds. This project aims to address the challenge of predicting the impact of extreme cyclonic winds on complex engineering structures. By applying advanced computational and experimental techniques the project expects to develop new insight into turbulent flows at a sub-cyclone scale and how these produce aerodynamic loads on closely spaced cylindrical structures and elements. The expected outcomes of this project include enhanced sim ....Structural Reliability of Engineering Structures in Cyclonic Winds. This project aims to address the challenge of predicting the impact of extreme cyclonic winds on complex engineering structures. By applying advanced computational and experimental techniques the project expects to develop new insight into turbulent flows at a sub-cyclone scale and how these produce aerodynamic loads on closely spaced cylindrical structures and elements. The expected outcomes of this project include enhanced simulation techniques leading to better understanding of structural vulnerability to cyclones. This should provide significant benefits, such as improved structural design and cyclone mitigation strategies applicable to both high-value engineering structures and vulnerable communities in cyclone regions.Read moreRead less
Wake dynamics of oscillating cylinder in steady currents. This project aims at advancing knowledge in flow/structure interactions and developing improved methodology for predicting wave and current loading on marine structures, which are vital in many practical applications such as extraction of oil and gas resources and renewable energy from the ocean. The improved methodology and much-needed database of hydrodynamic force coefficients developed through this project for estimating hydrodynamic ....Wake dynamics of oscillating cylinder in steady currents. This project aims at advancing knowledge in flow/structure interactions and developing improved methodology for predicting wave and current loading on marine structures, which are vital in many practical applications such as extraction of oil and gas resources and renewable energy from the ocean. The improved methodology and much-needed database of hydrodynamic force coefficients developed through this project for estimating hydrodynamic loading on marine structures will significantly reduce the high, costly uncertainly levels that are being experienced in the design, construction and maintenance of marine structures (and facilities) and increase the competiveness of Australian relevant industries. 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
Role of modulating water wave groups in enhancing air-water fluxes. This project aims to investigate the importance of the group structure and breaking of wind-generated waves of various scales in the air-water exchange of mass, momentum and energy. This project expects to generate new understanding in the area of air-water exchanges using an innovative approach based on direct numerical simulation of wind over unsteady water wave groups for a wide range of wind speed and wave steepness conditi ....Role of modulating water wave groups in enhancing air-water fluxes. This project aims to investigate the importance of the group structure and breaking of wind-generated waves of various scales in the air-water exchange of mass, momentum and energy. This project expects to generate new understanding in the area of air-water exchanges using an innovative approach based on direct numerical simulation of wind over unsteady water wave groups for a wide range of wind speed and wave steepness conditions.
Expected outcomes of this project include generating fundamental knowledge of the unresolved physics and new parameterisations for air-water exchange rates. This will deliver more accurate and more comprehensive forecast models for weather, inland and ocean waterways, and numerous industrial processes.Read moreRead less
Fluid-structure-acoustics interactions of bio-inspired flapping wings. This project aims to produce a deeper understanding of the role of wingtip feathers in the remarkable abilities of birds to fly in unsteady and unpredictable aerodynamic environments, and in some cases to do so almost silently. This is achieved by developing novel numerical methods integrating fluid, structure and acoustics interactions for large deformations and complex geometries. The numerical results are validated and com ....Fluid-structure-acoustics interactions of bio-inspired flapping wings. This project aims to produce a deeper understanding of the role of wingtip feathers in the remarkable abilities of birds to fly in unsteady and unpredictable aerodynamic environments, and in some cases to do so almost silently. This is achieved by developing novel numerical methods integrating fluid, structure and acoustics interactions for large deformations and complex geometries. The numerical results are validated and complemented by using flow, structure and acoustics experiments on dynamically scaled models. The insight gained provides design guidance for more efficient, robust and stable flight of bio-inspired micro air vehicles, and in reducing the noise impact of wind turbines by innovative blade leading edge and tip shaping.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