Research areas
Turbulent flows in aerodynamic applications
Boundary layers form whenever a fluid flows past a solid surface and their behaviour has a profound effect on the properties of the surrounding flow. In aerodynamic applications, controlling the boundary layers can enable us to increase the performance of flying bodies.
Boundary layers in propeller slipstreams
Boundary layers on the wings of turbopropellers and UAVs are immersed in the slipstreams of the propellers mounted ahead of the wings. The slipstream subjects the boundary layer to an unsteady and an intermittently turbulent flow. The response of the boundary layers to such conditions is being explored to enable better prediction of their behaviour and the wing performance.
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Turbulent flow over porous surfaces
Flow over a porous surface occurs in many natural and technologically relevant flows. Flow over porous riverbeds, urban structures, and canopies exemplify the former, while flow over porous surfaces used for enhancing (heat exchangers) or reducing (transpiration cooling) heat transfer, and for controlling turbulence, flow separation, vibrations, and noise illustrate the latter. Designing such applications and predicting the transport of mass, momentum, and energy in such flows at high Reynolds numbers requires realistic models for the flow processes. Developing such models, in turn, necessitates a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that generate and transport turbulence in such flows.
Rotating natural convection
Buoyancy-driven convection in nature occurring at large scales is affected by the earth's rotation. The study of rotating convection can provide us with insights into these phenomena.
Rotating convection over rough walls
Motivated by the fact that most surfaces in nature are rough, we are currently exploring the effect of rough walls on rotating natural convection.