Flow generation on the water surface. This project focuses on the efficient use of the energy of surface waves. It has been found recently that energy of surface waves can be converted and stored in the horizontal water motion near the surface. This project aims to develop new technologies to harness wave energy, including a novel method of accumulating the energy of random waves into a stationary surface flow and novel methods of manipulating floating objects by sending surface waves. This may ....Flow generation on the water surface. This project focuses on the efficient use of the energy of surface waves. It has been found recently that energy of surface waves can be converted and stored in the horizontal water motion near the surface. This project aims to develop new technologies to harness wave energy, including a novel method of accumulating the energy of random waves into a stationary surface flow and novel methods of manipulating floating objects by sending surface waves. This may help to stop the spread of surface pollutants or attract floating objects by sending waves towards them, and may help us to understand how rip currents are formed on the beach.Read moreRead less
Passive and active swimmers in complex flows. Strong interest in the motion of active swimmers in turbulent flows is triggered by problems such as sea search and rescue algorithms or diffusion of microorganisms in aquatic environments. For example, the patchiness in the distribution of phytoplankton can be related to the exposure of the microorganisms to turbulent flows. Recent progress in laboratory modelling of turbulence and the fabrication of artificial swimmers using Janus particles makes i ....Passive and active swimmers in complex flows. Strong interest in the motion of active swimmers in turbulent flows is triggered by problems such as sea search and rescue algorithms or diffusion of microorganisms in aquatic environments. For example, the patchiness in the distribution of phytoplankton can be related to the exposure of the microorganisms to turbulent flows. Recent progress in laboratory modelling of turbulence and the fabrication of artificial swimmers using Janus particles makes it possible to study these processes in the laboratory. This project is intended to undertake the first such study. The project is expected to help understand the impact of particle motility on turbulent dispersion.Read moreRead less