Research Activities

INAE Mumbai-Chapter Lecture on "CFD for Academia and Industries:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDy9QPhNalk&t=112s

Research Interest

    • Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

    • Bluff-Body Wakes and Vortex-Induced Vibrations

    • Computational Multi-Phase Flow

    • Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics and Computational Solid Dynamics (CFD+CSD), for Fluid-Structure-Interactions (FSI)

    • Convective Heat Transfer

It involves:

    • Analytical Development: Solution for Fully-developed stratified and annular flow with and without phase change in a Plane-Channel, Square duct and a Pipe.

    • Code Development:

        • Finite-Volume Formulations for Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer

        • Level Set Method for Computational Multi-Fluid Dynamics: (a) Diffuse-Interface, and (b) Sharp-Inerface

        • Level Set Method for Moving Boundary CFD Simulations.

        • Development of codes for various LAE solvers and Solution Algorithms in CFD.

        • Parallel Computing.

    • Application and Analysis:

      • Simulation of Heat and Fluid Flow across a Stationary and Moving Bluff Body.

      • Simulation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Wavy Channel.

      • Simulation of Hydrodynamics during a Fish-Like Locomotion.

      • Simulation of Two-Phase Stratified Flow with Film Boiling.

      • Simulation of Two-Phase for Jet Break-Up

      • Simulations for Droplet-Impact on a Solid Surface, Droplet-Coalescence on a Liquid Pool, and Droplet-Evaporation on a Solid Surface.

General Overview

Our R&D activity involves Computational and Theoretical Fluid Dynamics, done at CFD Lab. Computational research involves improvements in numerical methodology, in-house parallelized CFD code development, code validation/verification and then CFD simulation as well as analysis for various multi-phase and moving immersed body flow problems. Analytical solutions are also proposed wherever possible.

    • Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab (Room No. F-29, Mech. Engg. Dept.): I am a very active in the development of the lab, started in an area of around 300 square feet in 2005; and presently occupying 600 square feet since 2017. A considerable amount of equipment was bought for the laboratory from projects in which I was Principal or Co-investigator. From one BRNS and two DST projects, we have purchased a 12 node dual-processor dual-core and a 20 node dual-processor quad-core Linux Cluster. Students of other faculty members of our research group can freely use these facilities. The numbers of students using the laboratory during any one year would number roughly around 8-10 PhD students, 4-8 Masters, and perhaps a dozen seasonal undergraduates (summer internees, research course students, etc).

    • Major Codes developed under my Supervision

      1. Incompressible Navier-Stokes Solver for 2D complex geometry, using Multi-Block Structured Grids (by Sachin B. Paramane).

      2. Diffuse-Interface Level Set Method based code for Two-Phase flow in 3D Cartesian and Cylindrical Coordinates, with heat-transfer induced phase-change and conjugate heat-transfer (Developed by Vinesh H. Gada and D. Datta).

      3. Parallelization of the 3D Diffuse-Interface LSM based code (by Vishesh Aggarwal)

      4. Electrodynamic Module developed in the Diffuse-Interface LSM based code for Elector-Hydrodynamic Two-Phase flow (by Absar Lakhdawala).

      5. Sharp-Interface Level Set Method based code for Two-Phase flow in 2D Cartesian and Cylindrical Coordinates, with heat as well as mass transfer induced phase-change (Developed by Javed Shaikh).

      6. Level Set Method based Immersed boundary method based code for 2D moving boundary flow problems (by Mukul Srivastava).

      7. Level Set Method based Immersed boundary method based code for 2D moving boundary flow problems (by Namshad T.).

Main Thrust Areas

On the CFD developmental aspect, the major thrust is on proposing improvements in an existing numerical method and demonstrating its advantage by a detailed comparison with the existing methods in terms of computational accuracy and efficiency. Whereas, for CFD simulation and analysis, the thrust is on first, proper collection of spatial and temporal variation of the flow-properties and engineering-parameters; and, second, a detailed analysis of the results after generating various figures/movies for the problem. There are two major thrust areas of R&D activity in the CFDHT lab: first, level set method based CFD development for multi-phase flow and for flow across moving immersed bodies; and second, CFD simulation and analysis of various related problems. Multi-Phase flow problems are studied for stratified flow with boiling/condensation, film boiling over a plate and over a rod, breakup modes of an axisymmetric liquid jet injected into another liquid, drop breakup as well as drop coalescence under the influence of electric field, impact of a droplet on a micro-structured surface, and droplet evaporation on a solid surface. Moving boundary problem is studied for hydrodynamics during fish-like locomotion.

Invited Talk

    • "Binary Droplets Coalescence-Dynamics and Collision-Dynamics in Air", International-Workshop on Interfacial Flow and Heat Transfer in Droplets and Liquid Films for Advanced Thermal Management Systems. IIT Bombay, 6th March, 2020.

    • "Computational Multi-Phase Dynamics: Multi-Fluid and Fluid-Solid Interactions", Indian Nuclear Society workshop on Numerical Heat Transfer, BARC, Mumbai.18th Sept. 2019.

    • "Computational Multi-Phase Dynamics: Multi-Fluid and Fluid-Solid Interactions", Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Roorkee, 03rd May, 2018.

    • "CFD Development and Analysis: A Physical and Insightful Approach", Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Roorkee, 03rd May, 2018.

    • "CFD Development and Analysis: A Physical and Insightful Approach" at 1st Int. Conf. on Future Learning Aspects of Mech. Engg.. Amity School of Engg. & Tech., Noida. 4th Oct. 2018.

    • "Computational-Fluid- Dynamics (CFD): A more Physical Approach", Erudite Lecture, CSIR-CMERI's Diamond Jubilee Celebration, CMERI, Durgapur, 30th Oct., 2017.

    • "Physical Law and Discrete (independent of Continuous) Mathematics based Finite-Volume- Method (FVM) for Computational-Fluid- Dynamics (CFD)" in the National Conference on Fluid Mechanics, SSN College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, Chennai, 27th Oct., 2017.

    • "Diffuse and Sharp Interface Level set Method for Heat/Mass Transfer Induced Phase Change" in the Indian Nuclear Society workshop on Numerical Heat Transfer, Bhabha Atomoc Research Center, Mumbai, INDIA. 10th May, 2017.

    • "Diffuse and Sharp Interface Level set Method for Heat/Mass Transfer Induced Phase Change" in the Indo-French Workshop on Phase Change Thermal Systems, Khajuraho, 29th Nov. 2016.

    • “Level Set Method for Simulation of Immiscible Multiphase flows” in the (Pre ASME-ISHMT 2013 Conference) Workshop on Multiphase Flows: Fundamentals and Applications, IIT Bombay, Mumbai. 26-27 December, 2013.

    • “Level Set Method based CFD Development and its Application to CFD Analysis of Multi-Phase and Moving-Body Problem” at National Conference on Emerging Vista of Technology in 21st Century. Parul Institute of Engineering and Technology, Vadodara. 10-11 May, 2013.

    • “Level Set Method based Multi-Scale Simulation of Multiphase Flow” in the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences Theme Meeting on “Multiphysics Coupling and Multiscale Modelling”. Bhabha Atomoc Research Center, Mumbai, INDIA. 8th May, 2012.

Session Chair

    • Chaired a Session on “Computational Fluid Dynamics: Fundamental and Algorithms” at 39th National Conference on FMFP at S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat. 13-15 December 2012.

Sponsored Research Projects

  1. "CFD Application for Analysis of Thermal-Hydraulics during flow ofHeliumGas in Sphere packed (Pebble Bed) in a Rectangular Box (Canister)"(PI-Prof. Sandip Kumar Saha) - Sponsored by Board of Research in Nuclear Studies, Mumbai, 2018-2020, Ongoing.

  2. "SMART FOUNDRY: Level Set Based Modelling and Simulation of Casting" (CI-Prof. Shyam Karagadde), Sponsored by Department of Science & Technology - Tech. Systems Development Programme, 2016-2019, Ongoing.

  3. "SMART FOUNDRY: Process Optimization and Modeling of MMC" (PI-Prof. Shyam Karagadde), Sponsored by Department of Science & Technology - Tech. Systems Development Programme, 2016-2019, Ongoing.

  4. "Nucleate boiling on passive and active flexible micro structured surfaces (PI-Prof. Amitabh Bhattacharya)", Sponsored by Department of Science & Technology-International Division (DST-A*STAR India- Singapore Joint S & T Research Cooperation), 2014-2017, Ongoing.

  5. “Numerical Investigation of 3-D Unsteady Fluid Flow and Conjugate Heat Transfer Characteristics in a Wavy Channel based PCHE Mode”, Sponsored by Board of Research in Fusion Science and Technology, Ahmedabad, 2012-2014, Completed.

  6. “A Level Set Based Cartesian Grid Method for Moving Boundary Computations and its Application to Bio-Fluid Simulation of Fish-Like Locomotion” (CI-Prof. Amit Agrawal) - Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, 2009-2012, Completed.

  7. “Computational Modeling and Simulation of Film-Condensation” (CI-Prof. Amit Agrawal) - Sponsored by Asian office of Aerospace Research and Development, USA, 2011-2012, Completed.

  8. “Level Set Method Based 3D Transient Simulation of Steam Water Stratified Developing Flow and Conjugate Heat Transfer in a Horizontal Pipe with a Nuclear Fuel Simulator Rod” (CI-Prof. Kannan Iyer) - Sponsored by Board of Research in Nuclear Studies, Mumbai, 2007-2011, Completed.

  9. “Particle Image Velocimetry based Measurements around Multiple Bodies in Row and V-Configurations” (PI-Prof. Amit Agrawal) - Sponsored by Naval Research Board, 2011-2014, Completed.

  10. “Network Enabled Online Casting Simulation System (E-FOUNDRY)” (PI-Prof. B. Ravi) - Sponsored by Department of Information Technology, 2011-2013, Completed.

  11. “Lattice Boltzmann Method based Simulation for a Row of Fixed and Moving cylinders” (PI-Prof. Amit Agrawal) - Sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, 2006-2009, Completed.

  12. “Numerical Investigation of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Wavy Channels” - Sponsored by IIT Bombay, Mumbai, 2004-2009, Completed

Consultancy Projects

CFD CONSULTANT for Analytical Center, Global R&D, CROMPTON GREAVES LIMITED, Mumbai, October 2010-2015.

    • To review and provide technical inputs on Projects undertaken by CG related to Fluid dynamics and heat transfer studies specially on CFD simulations.

    • To impart knowledge by giving technical talks and resolving doubts raised by CG employees; in the field of computational fluid dynamics.