My research interests lie in applied mathematics, specifically studying fluid dynamics problems involving moving interfaces. These flows are classified as free-boundary problems. We need to determine moving interfaces as part of the solution to obtain a quantitative description of the dynamics. Such problems are notoriously tricky mathematically for several reasons:
(a) The Navier-Stokes equations need to be solved in changing domains.
(b) In certain applications, we may need to also solve for the temperature/ electric/ magnetic/ electromagnetic fields.
(c) Several nonlinear boundary conditions must be specified at the unknown interface(s).
(d) The surface equation is highly nonlinear.
I use modeling, analysis, and computations to investigate the flow dynamics. The models I develop incorporate various physical effects, such as Marangoni forces resulting from surface tension gradients and electrostatic and electrokinetic effects that are crucial in micro- and nano-fluidic applications. Mathematically, these models are reduced systems of the Navier-Stokes equations and often lead to nonlinear PDEs of the "active-dissipative" type. These equations exhibit long-wave instabilities and short-wave damping, which results in low dimensional interfacial chaos. My primary objective is to understand the qualitative aspects of these solutions through analysis and construct quantitative solutions using accurate and efficient simulations.