High-fidelity simulations for new models that reduce noise pollution. This project aims to develop a method for accurate and affordable prediction and mitigation of flow-induced noise. The innovative approach, based on recent developments in simulation and data-driven modelling, expects to reduce environmental noise pollution, improve public health and ease the impact of urbanisation. To date methodological limitations have hampered our ability to predict noise reliably and hence control it. Thi ....High-fidelity simulations for new models that reduce noise pollution. This project aims to develop a method for accurate and affordable prediction and mitigation of flow-induced noise. The innovative approach, based on recent developments in simulation and data-driven modelling, expects to reduce environmental noise pollution, improve public health and ease the impact of urbanisation. To date methodological limitations have hampered our ability to predict noise reliably and hence control it. This project, exploiting proven high-fidelity simulation and machine-learning techniques to overcome limitations to produce the scientific knowledge required for practical noise mitigation. Benefits include quieter aerospace, marine and renewable energy technologies, creating more pleasant communities.Read moreRead less
Towards an event based model of combustion generated sound. This proposal will develop new tools for predicting combustion generated sound. Since combustion noise often limits system performance, these new tools could be used to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants from power generation and transportation.
Ultrasonic production of skim milk. Milk will be skimmed using ultrasonic waves and tiny bubbles that separate the fat droplets from whole milk, saving energy and cleaning costs. It will also be possible to precisely select different nutritional compounds from the rich resource that is whole milk, enabling future health products.
Acoustic single cell traps: Understanding the woods by examining the trees. This project aims to define the underlying physics behind the manipulation of individual cells in a microfluidic chip using acoustic forces. The technology investigated would offer biomedical researchers a unique capability: that of tracking individual cell responses. It is known for example that drug resistance and latency emerge from small sub-populations of cells, so crucial information is lost when cells are studied ....Acoustic single cell traps: Understanding the woods by examining the trees. This project aims to define the underlying physics behind the manipulation of individual cells in a microfluidic chip using acoustic forces. The technology investigated would offer biomedical researchers a unique capability: that of tracking individual cell responses. It is known for example that drug resistance and latency emerge from small sub-populations of cells, so crucial information is lost when cells are studied at a population level. To trap single cells, the acoustic wavelength excited must be reduced to the order of a cell diameter. By enabling the analysis of different responses due to subtle cell difference, information pertinent to infection pathways and drug response could be gathered.Read moreRead less
Acoustowetting: Microscale and Nanoscale Liquid Manipulation for Microfluidic Applications. The ability to control the spreading of liquids on surfaces is crucial to the design of portable diagnostic microdevices. Combining advanced flow visualisation together with analytical and numerical techniques, this project will elucidate a recently discovered ‘acoustowetting’ phenomenon in which micron thick liquid films can be manipulated using sound waves localised on a substrate. The phenomenon is dyn ....Acoustowetting: Microscale and Nanoscale Liquid Manipulation for Microfluidic Applications. The ability to control the spreading of liquids on surfaces is crucial to the design of portable diagnostic microdevices. Combining advanced flow visualisation together with analytical and numerical techniques, this project will elucidate a recently discovered ‘acoustowetting’ phenomenon in which micron thick liquid films can be manipulated using sound waves localised on a substrate. The phenomenon is dynamically rich and complex, exhibiting peculiarities that are at times analogous to other spreading processes and at other times quite unique: flow reversal, fingering instabilities and soliton-like wave trains. The research will subsequently utilise this fundamental understanding to design a system for encapsulating cells in droplets for drug delivery applications.Read moreRead less