Note: * Postdoc or PhD or visiting students from the group

Under review

74. Universal bang-bang control for two-way regulation of turbulent heat transfer revealed by deep reinforcement learning

73. Three-dimensional turbulent free-surface flow past a submerged horizontal cylinder: combined dependence on Froude number and gap ratio

72. Effects of radiative interior on solar inertial modes

71. Growth dynamics and size scaling of geophysical vortex condensates

70. Linear mechanisms underpin superstructures and near-wall scales in turbulent convection

69. Formation of Superswells and Domes in Layered Turbulent Convection Systems

68. Scaling of latitude-dependent heat transport in geostrophic convection

67. Quantifying boundary layer asymmetry in spherical and annular turbulent convection with boundary layer theories

Journal refereed publications

66. Flapping Dynamics of a Compliant Membrane in a Uniform Incoming Flow

C Zhang*, A Gao, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1027, A31 (2026) 

65. Linear stability analysis of magnetoconvection in finite-sized systems: between spatial confinement and magnetic field

X Tao*, X Zhu, M Ni, Y Xie

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1027, A6 (2026)

64. Direct numerical simulations of non-coalescing floating bubbles: geometry and self-organization

K Patel*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1026, A19 (2026)

63. Onset and length scales of wall modes in confined magnetoconvection with a vertical magnetic field

X Tao*, X Zhu, M Ni, Y Xie

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1026, A41 (2026)

62. Vortices vs. magnetic fields: competing orders in flux tubes 

W Shen*, R Ostilla-Monico, X Zhu

European Journal of Mechanics B/Fluids 115, 204393 (2026)

Euromech Visions of Fluid Dynamics Prize 

61. Free-surface flow past a submerged horizontal cylinder: Reynolds-number dependence

J Sun*, M Lu, K Patel*, X Zhu, Z Yang

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1023, A39 (2025)

60. Vortex–magnetic competition and regime transitions in antiparallel flux tubes

W Shen*, R Ostilla-Monico, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1022, A1 (2025)

Cover of JFM

59. Deep reinforcement learning control unlocks enhanced heat transfer in turbulent convection

Z Zhou*, X Zhu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122, e2506351122 (2025)

58. Boundary layer asymmetry in turbulent spherical Rayleigh–Bénard convection: combined dependence on Prandtl number and radius ratio

Y Fu*, SH Bader*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1018, A21 (2025)

Cover of JFM

57. Velocity crisis of a self-propelled hyperelastic membrane foil in pitching motion

X Bi*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1018, A8 (2025)

56. Beyond Nusselt number: Assessing Reynolds and length scalings in rotating convection under stress-free boundary conditions

V Kannan*, J Song*, O Shishkina, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1016, A3 (2025)

55. A framework for suppressing triad-interaction in nonlinear dynamical systems: Application to multiple states in two-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection

R Bose*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1014, A7 (2025)

54. Transition between rotation- and buoyancy-dominated regimes in rotating convection: The effect of boundary conditions

V Kannan*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1011, A7 (2025)

53. Liquid-gas flow over a stationary cylinder: interface topology, wake structure, and hydrodynamic lift

K Patel*, J Sun, Z Yang, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1008, A10 (2025)

52. Assessing the validity of the anelastic and Boussinesq approximations to model solar inertial modes

S Mukhopadhyay*, Y Bekki, X Zhu, L Gizon

Astronomy & Astrophysics 696, A160 (2025)

51. Reinforcement-learning-based control of turbulent channel flows at high Reynolds numbers

Z Zhou*, M Zhang, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1006, A12 (2025)

50. Heat and momentum transfer in Rayleigh–Bénard convection within a two-dimensional annulus under radial gravity

A Bhadra*, O Shishkina, X Zhu

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 241, 126703 (2025)

49. AFiD-MHD: a finite difference method for magnetohydrodynamic flows

SH Bader*, X Zhu

Journal of Computational Physics 523, 113658 (2025)

48. Turbulent spherical Rayleigh-Bénard convection: radius ratio dependence

Y Fu*, SH Bader*, J Song*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1000, A41 (2024)

47. Threshold Current Density for Diffusion-controlled Stability of Surface Electrolytic Nanobubbles

Y Zhang, X Zhu, J. A. Wood, D. Lohse

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121, e2321958121 (2024)

46. Linear instability in thermally-stratified Keplerian flows

D Wan, R Bose*, M Zhang, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 999, A75 (2024)

45. On the boundary layer asymmetry in two-dimensional annular Rayleigh-Bénard convection subject to radial gravity

A Bhadra*, O Shishkina, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 999, R1 (2024)

44. The generalized quasilinear approximation of Rayleigh-Bénard convection

R Bose*, V Kannan*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 998, A52 (2024) 

43. Free surface-induced ground effect for flapping swimmers 

K Zheng*, S He, X Zhao, L Shen, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 997, A36 (2024) 

42. Transport scaling in porous media convection

X Zhu, Y Fu*, M De Paoli

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 991, A4 (2024)

41. Direct numerical simulations of rapidly rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection with Rayleigh number up to $5\times10^{13}$

J Song*, O Shishkina, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 989, A3 (2024)

Cover of JFM

40. Scaling regimes in rapidly rotating thermal convection at extreme Rayleigh numbers

J Song*, O Shishkina, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 984, A45 (2024)

39. A boundary condition-enhanced direct-forcing immersed boundary method for simulations of three-dimensional phoretic particles in incompressible flows

X Zhu, Y Chen, K Chong, D. Lohse, R. Verzicco

Journal of Computational Physics 509, 113028 (2024)

38. Predicting unavailable parameters from existing velocity fields of turbulent flows using a GAN-based model

L Yu, MZ Yousif, YW Lee, X Zhu, M Zhang, P Kolesova, HC Lim

Physical Review Fluids 9, 024603 (2024)

37. Direct numerical simulations of the transition between rotation- to buoyancy-dominated regimes in rotating Rayleigh-Bénard convection

J Song*, V Kannan*, O Shishkina, X Zhu

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 232, 125971 (2024)

36. Three-dimensional Turbulent Reconnection within Solar Flaring Current Sheet

Y Wang, X Cheng, M Ding, Z Liu, J Liu, X Zhu

Astrophysical Journal Letters 954, L36 (2023)

35. Scaling relations in quasi-static magnetoconvection with a strong vertical magnetic field

SH Bader*, X Zhu

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 976, A4 (2023)

34. Spatial population genetics with fluid flow

R Benzi, DR Nelson, S Shankar, F Toschi, X Zhu

Reports on Progress in Physics 85, 096601 (2022)

33. Effects of radius ratio on annular centrifugal Rayleigh–Bénard convection

D Wang, H Jiang, S Liu, X Zhu, C Sun

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 930, A19 (2022)

32. Closing the loop: nonlinear Taylor vortex flow through the lens of resolvent analysis

B Barthel, X Zhu, B McKeon

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 924, A9 (2021)

31. Supergravitational turbulent thermal convection

H Jiang*, X Zhu*, D Wang, SG Huisman, C Sun

Science Advances 6 (40), eabb8676 (2020)

30. Flow organization and heat transfer in turbulent wall sheared thermal convection

A Blass, X Zhu, R Verzicco, D Lohse, RJAM Stevens

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 897, A22 (2020)

29. From Rayleigh–Bénard convection to porous-media convection: how porosity affects heat transfer and flow structure

S Liu, L Jiang, KL Chong, X Zhu, ZH Wan, R Verzicco, RJAM Stevens, D Lohse, C Sun

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 895, A18 (2020)

28. Direct numerical simulations of spiral Taylor–Couette turbulence

P Berghout, RJ Dingemans, X Zhu, R Verzicco, RJAM Stevens, W Van Saarloos, D Lohse

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 887, A18 (2020)

27. Reply to “Absence of evidence for the ultimate regime in two-dimensional Rayleigh-Bénard convection”

X Zhu, V Mathai, RJAM Stevens, R Verzicco, D Lohse

Physical Review Letters 123 (25), 259402 (2019)

26. Convective heat transfer along ratchet surfaces in vertical natural convection

H Jiang, X Zhu, V Mathai, X Yang, R Verzicco, D Lohse, C Sun

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 873, 1055-1071 (2019)

25. Direct numerical simulations of Taylor–Couette turbulence: the effects of sand grain roughness

P. Berghout, X. Zhu, D. Chung, R. Verzicco, R. J. A. M. Stevens, D. Lohse

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 873, 260-286 (2019)

24. Scaling enabled by multiscale wall roughness in Rayleigh–Bénard turbulence

X. Zhu, R. J. A. M. Stevens, O. Shishkina, R. Verzicco, D. Lohse

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 869, R4 (2019)

23.  J. Lu, X. Zhu, E. A. J. F. Peters, R. Verzicco, D. Lohse, and J. A. M. Kuipers

"Moving from momentum transfer to heat transfer-a comparative study of an advanced Graetz-Nusselt problem using immersed boundary methods"

Chemical Engineering Science 198, 317-333 (2019)

22.  X. Zhu*, R. A. Verschoof*, D. Bakhuis, S. G. Huisman, R. Verzicco, C. Sun, and D. Lohse,

"Wall roughness induces asymptotic ultimate turbulence",

Nature Physics 14, 417-423 (2018). (*Co-first authors) 

See also the News/Views on Nature Physics by Prof. Lex Smits from Princeton University.

21. V. Mathai*, X. Zhu*, C. Sun, and D. Lohse,

"Controlling particle path-instabilites by tuning rotational inertia",

Nature Communications 9, 1792 (2018). (*Co-first authors) 

20. X. Zhu, V. Mathai, R. J. A. M. Stevens, R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

"Transition to the ultimate regime in two-dimensional Rayleigh–Bénard convection convection",

Physical Review Letters 120, 144502 (2018). 

Cover of the issue

19. H. Jiang, X. Zhu , V. Mathai, R. Verzicco, D. Lohse, and C. Sun,

"Controlling heat transport and flow structures in thermal turbulence using ratchet surfaces",

Physical Review Letters 120, 044501 (2018).

18. D. Krug, X. Zhu, D. Chung, I. Marusic, R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

"Transition to ultimate Rayleigh-Bénard turbulence revealed through extended self similarity scaling analysis of the temperature structure functions".

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 851, R3 (2018)

17. B. Gvozdic, E. Almeras, V. Mathai, X. Zhu , D. P. M. van Gils, R. Verzicco, S. G. Huisman, C. Sun, and D. Lohse,

"Experimental investigation of heat transport in homogeneous bubbly flow",

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 845, 226-244 (2018).

16. X. Zhu, E. Philips, V. Spandan, J. Donners, G. Ruetsch, J. Romero, R. Ostilla-Monico, Y. Yang, D. Lohse, R. Verzicco, M. Fatica, and R. J. A. M. Stevens,

"AFiD-GPU: a versatile Navier-Stokes solver for wall-bounded turbulent flows on GPU clusters",

Computer Physics Communications 229, 199-210 (2018).

15. X. Zhu, R. Verzicco, X. Zhang, and D. Lohse,

"Diffusive interaction of multiple surface nanobubbles: shrinkage, growth, and coarsening",

Soft Matter 14, 2006-2014 (2018). 

Cover of the issue

14. R. J. A. M. Stevens, A. Blass, X. Zhu , R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

"Turbulent thermal superstructures in Rayleigh-Bénard convection",

Physical Review Fluids 3, 041501(R) (2018).

13. R. A. Verschoof, X. Zhu, D. Bakhuis, S. G. Huisman, R. Verzicco, C. Sun, and D. Lohse,

"Rough wall turbulent Taylor-Couette flow: the effect of the rib height".

The European Physical Journal E 41 (10), 125 (2018)

12, R. Ostilla-Monico, X. Zhu , and R. Verzicco,

"Exploring the large-scale structure of Taylor-Couette turbulence through Large-Eddy Simulations",

Journal of Physics: Conference Series 1001, 012017 (2018).

11. Z. Lu, M. H. Klein Schaarsberg, X. Zhu , L. Y. Yeo, D. Lohse, and X. Zhang,

"Universal nanodroplet branches from conning the Ouzo effect",

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114 (39), 10332-10337 (2017).

10. X. Zhu, R. J. A. M. Stevens, R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

"Roughness-facilitated local 1/2 scaling does not imply the onset of the ultimate regime of thermal convection",

Physical Review Letters 119, 154501 (2017).

9.  V. Mathai*, X. Zhu*, C. Sun, D. Lohse,

"Mass and moment of inertia govern the transition in the dynamics and wakes of freely rising and falling cylinders",

Physical Review Letters 119, 054501 (2017). (*Co-first authors) 

Editor's Suggestion

8. X. Zhu, R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

"Disentangling the origins of torque enhancement through wall roughness in Taylor-Couette turbulence",

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 812, 279-293 (2017).

7. R. Ostilla-Monico, X. Zhu, V. Spandan, R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

"Life stages of wall-bounded decay of Taylor-Couette turbulence",

Physical Review Fluids 2, 114601 (2017).

6. X. Zhu, R. Ostilla-Monico, R. Verzicco, and D. Lohse,

Direct numerical simulation of Taylor-Couette ow with grooved walls: torque scaling and flow structure,

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 794, 746-774 (2016).

5. X. Zhu, G. He, and X. Zhang,

"Flow-mediated interactions between two self-propelled flapping laments in tandem configuration",

Physical Review Letters 113, 238105 (2014).

4. X. Zhu, G. He, and X. Zhang,

"How flexibility affects the wake symmetry properties of a self-propelled plunging foil",

Journal of Fluid Mechanics 751, 164-183 (2014).

3. X. Zhu, G. He, and X. Zhang,

"Numerical study on hydrodynamic effect of flexibility in a self-propelled plunging foil",

Computers & Fluids 97, 1-20 (2014).

2. X. Zhu, G. He, and X. Zhang,

"An improved direct-forcing immersed boundary method for fluid-structure interaction simulations",

Journal of Fluids Engineering 136, 040903 (2014).

1. X. Zhu, G. He, and X. Zhang,

"Underlying principle of effcient propulsion in flexible plunging foils",

Acta Mechanica Sinica 30, 839-845 (2014).