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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101098
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$315,000.00
Summary
Novel modelling of fluid-structure interactions in biological flows. The objective of this project is to develop a novel method to model fluid-structure interactions and turbulence in cardiovascular systems. The cardiovascular system is essential in providing nutrient and waste transport throughout the body. Because blood vessels and red blood cells are flexible, they are subjected to large deformations with significant effects on physiological functions such as blood distribution and oxygen rel ....Novel modelling of fluid-structure interactions in biological flows. The objective of this project is to develop a novel method to model fluid-structure interactions and turbulence in cardiovascular systems. The cardiovascular system is essential in providing nutrient and waste transport throughout the body. Because blood vessels and red blood cells are flexible, they are subjected to large deformations with significant effects on physiological functions such as blood distribution and oxygen release. Fluid-structure interactions are critical for understanding the intricacies of such systems but it is still a challenge to model these systems realistically using numerical methods. Expected outcomes of the project include better simulations of three-dimensional fluid-structure interactions and improved understanding of the behaviours of biological systems.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the mysteries of turbulent drag at the air-sea interface. 70% of the Earth's surface is the air-sea interface. A huge amount of energy and gas is exchanged between the atmosphere and ocean; exchanges that are crucial for life on earth. Climate models, weather and wave forecasts depend on oversimplified models for these exchanges. Oversimplification limits accuracy, with outcomes ranging from inaccurate climate predictions to costly and unnecessary rerouting of ships or evacuations of ....Unravelling the mysteries of turbulent drag at the air-sea interface. 70% of the Earth's surface is the air-sea interface. A huge amount of energy and gas is exchanged between the atmosphere and ocean; exchanges that are crucial for life on earth. Climate models, weather and wave forecasts depend on oversimplified models for these exchanges. Oversimplification limits accuracy, with outcomes ranging from inaccurate climate predictions to costly and unnecessary rerouting of ships or evacuations of oil platforms. This project promises new knowledge of the turbulent air flow above waves through innovative, ambitious experiments in our laboratory wind-wave tanks. Concurrently, novel numerical simulations will enable new models for sea drag coefficient, the most critical component in air-sea interaction models. Read moreRead less
Study of a turbulent boundary layer over 2D and 3D rough walls. The project is aimed at resolving critical issues related to turbulent flows over rough walls, which hinder the engineer's ability to model these flows. The research will provide key answers to these issues and lead to more realistic models as well as strategies for controlling drag, sedimentation and heat transport.
Advanced Combustion Modelling for Scramjets and Rotating Detonation Engines. This project will develop new fundamental knowledge and engineering models underpinning air-breathing high speed propulsion engines employing complex hydrocarbon fuels. Extensive data and new physical understanding will be garnered through analysis of direct numerical simulations of supersonic reacting mixing layers including impinging shock waves. That data will be employed to isolate, test and develop computationally ....Advanced Combustion Modelling for Scramjets and Rotating Detonation Engines. This project will develop new fundamental knowledge and engineering models underpinning air-breathing high speed propulsion engines employing complex hydrocarbon fuels. Extensive data and new physical understanding will be garnered through analysis of direct numerical simulations of supersonic reacting mixing layers including impinging shock waves. That data will be employed to isolate, test and develop computationally efficient engineering models that are accurate and efficient for high speed combustion in rotating detonation engines and scramjets. Expected outcomes are knowledge and tools needed to develop practical and effective supersonic propulsion engines for access to space, defence and high speed point-to-point flight.
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Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is ne ....Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is needed to exploit this potential. Fluid dynamics and optimisation researchers will design an improved vertical axis tidal turbine for use in the Torres Strait Islands. This project could improve tidal turbine design and turbine placement designs, and improve understanding of interactions between turbines and the maritime environment.Read moreRead less
Wall turbulence control: beyond the canonical smooth wall case. This project aims to fill a critical knowledge gap in the area of wall turbulence by investigating how a rough wall turbulent boundary layer responds to changes, such as wall suction and blowing. The economic and environmental costs caused by the roughening of surfaces on moving vehicles is staggering in the transport industry (roads, rails, air and sea) and ultimately for Australia. This project will generate new knowledge to ascer ....Wall turbulence control: beyond the canonical smooth wall case. This project aims to fill a critical knowledge gap in the area of wall turbulence by investigating how a rough wall turbulent boundary layer responds to changes, such as wall suction and blowing. The economic and environmental costs caused by the roughening of surfaces on moving vehicles is staggering in the transport industry (roads, rails, air and sea) and ultimately for Australia. This project will generate new knowledge to ascertain whether or not turbulent flows over rough surfaces can be controlled or managed to achieve outcomes such as reducing the drag of a roughened bluff body, for example a ship whose hull is roughened by fouling. The project expects to improve understanding of wall turbulence control, and will lead to significant benefits such as improved control technologies and better prediction and description of wall turbulence.Read moreRead less
Effect of forcing on the turbulent mixing of a passive scalar. This project will increase Australia’s expertise in the area of turbulence, which is the usual state of fluid motion . A better knowledge of turbulent mixing will lead to more efficient combustion, savings in energy expenditure as well as a reduction in pollutant emissions.
Application of exact coherent structures to transition and turbulence. This project aims to understand coherent structures and devise methods to prevent bypass transition to turbulence and reduce turbulent wall drag. Coherent structures in turbulence may be identified with nonlinear solutions of the exact equations of motion. Such "exact" coherent structures have their Reynolds number dependence described explicitly and apply for moderate to very large Reynolds numbers, well above the range of f ....Application of exact coherent structures to transition and turbulence. This project aims to understand coherent structures and devise methods to prevent bypass transition to turbulence and reduce turbulent wall drag. Coherent structures in turbulence may be identified with nonlinear solutions of the exact equations of motion. Such "exact" coherent structures have their Reynolds number dependence described explicitly and apply for moderate to very large Reynolds numbers, well above the range of full Navier–Stokes calculations. Understanding the fundamentals of turbulence is expected to lead to more efficient and cheaper air transportation, and better tools for climate prediction and short-term weather forecasting.Read moreRead less
A Novel Approach To Flow Control By Topography. The project will resolve important questions concerning the influence of boundary topography on transition to turbulence and on the exact coherent structures forming the backbone of turbulence.
The canonical topography known from previous work by one of the investigators is a wavy wall and, as well as resolving important issues in flow physics, the research is relevant to many flows of importance such roughness induced transition on aircraft wings, ....A Novel Approach To Flow Control By Topography. The project will resolve important questions concerning the influence of boundary topography on transition to turbulence and on the exact coherent structures forming the backbone of turbulence.
The canonical topography known from previous work by one of the investigators is a wavy wall and, as well as resolving important issues in flow physics, the research is relevant to many flows of importance such roughness induced transition on aircraft wings, flows in heat transfer/mixing devices, blood flow and the influence of topography on the atmospheric boundary layer.
Expected outcomes are an understanding of the interplay between transitional and turbulent flows with wall topography together with strategies to enhance mixing and drag reduction.Read moreRead less