I am always looking for enthusiastic students to do research projects at Post-Doc and PhD level. Contact me if you are interested in one of the projects below!
Open post-doc positions in Fluid Mechanics
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Post-doc position on surfactant-laden turbulent flows over superhydrophobic surfaces
Location: Department of Mathematics, University of Manchester, UK Subject areas: Fluid Mechanics, Modelling, Turbulent Flow Anticipated start date: April 2021 Application: jobs.manchester.ac.uk Closing date: 15 January 2021 |
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Description:
Applications are invited for a 2.5-year post-doctoral position focused on the theoretical and numerical mathematical modelling of the impact of surfactant on the drag reduction performance of superhydrophobic surfaces in turbulent flow conditions. The position is supported by a joint UK-US recently-awarded EPSRC-NSF Grant “Surfactant impact on drag reduction of superhydrophobic surfaces in turbulent flows”.
The Research Associate will work closely with Prof. O. E. Jensen and Dr J. R. Landel at the Department of Mathematics, who have strong expertise in the modelling of surfactant flow phenomena and flows over superhydrophobic surfaces. The Research Associate will also work in collaboration with Profs Frederic Gibou and Paolo Luzzatto-Fegiz at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara, who have been awarded co-funding for this project. The Research Associate will join a dynamic international team of experts at the fore-front of the theoretical and numerical modelling in the field.
The project lies at the interface between applied mathematics, continuum mechanics, fluid mechanics, and multi-scale physics. The main aims are to develop mathematical models using approximation techniques to describe the impact of surfactant through the Marangoni effects on the turbulent flow above a superhydrophobic surface. The post-holder will develop low-order models to describe the key parameters and physics in the problem. The team at UCSB will develop in a parallel effort direct numerical simulations of turbulent flows above superhydrophobic surface inclusive of surfactant. The numerical simulations at UCSB will provide a wealth of data at regimes previously unexplored, and crucial for the development of the low order models at Manchester.
The successful applicant will hold (or be about to complete) a PhD or equivalent in Applied Mathematics, Physics or a closely related field. The ideal candidate will have a solid track record of publications relevant to the project area, and a strong aptitude for interdisciplinary research.
Applications are invited for a 2.5-year post-doctoral position focused on the theoretical and numerical mathematical modelling of the impact of surfactant on the drag reduction performance of superhydrophobic surfaces in turbulent flow conditions. The position is supported by a joint UK-US recently-awarded EPSRC-NSF Grant “Surfactant impact on drag reduction of superhydrophobic surfaces in turbulent flows”.
The Research Associate will work closely with Prof. O. E. Jensen and Dr J. R. Landel at the Department of Mathematics, who have strong expertise in the modelling of surfactant flow phenomena and flows over superhydrophobic surfaces. The Research Associate will also work in collaboration with Profs Frederic Gibou and Paolo Luzzatto-Fegiz at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara, who have been awarded co-funding for this project. The Research Associate will join a dynamic international team of experts at the fore-front of the theoretical and numerical modelling in the field.
The project lies at the interface between applied mathematics, continuum mechanics, fluid mechanics, and multi-scale physics. The main aims are to develop mathematical models using approximation techniques to describe the impact of surfactant through the Marangoni effects on the turbulent flow above a superhydrophobic surface. The post-holder will develop low-order models to describe the key parameters and physics in the problem. The team at UCSB will develop in a parallel effort direct numerical simulations of turbulent flows above superhydrophobic surface inclusive of surfactant. The numerical simulations at UCSB will provide a wealth of data at regimes previously unexplored, and crucial for the development of the low order models at Manchester.
The successful applicant will hold (or be about to complete) a PhD or equivalent in Applied Mathematics, Physics or a closely related field. The ideal candidate will have a solid track record of publications relevant to the project area, and a strong aptitude for interdisciplinary research.
Open PhD projects in Fluid Mechanics
- Modelling convective mass transfer for cleaning and decontamination problems
Subject areas: Fluid Mechanics, Applied Physics, Applied Mathematics
Anticipated start date: September 2021
Description:
Cleaning and decontamination processes can rely on different mechanisms to remove a patch of alien substance attached to a substrate. A shear flow covering the substrate can remove the substance through mechanical forces, potentially combined with chemical surfactant agent decreasing the adhesion of the substance onto the surface. However, this project is concerned with a second type of mechanism which is based on the dissolution of the substance into the cleaning fluid flow covering the substance.
This second type of cleaning process establishes a convective mass transfer between the alien phase and the cleaning phase. Several applications rely on this process, particularly when the dispersion of the substance is unwanted, such as in the decontamination process of toxic chemical spills. In our daily life, the cleaning mechanism more and more favoured in dishwashers relies also on a convective mass transfer as it has been shown empirically to reduce energy and water consumption. This project will focus on the case of a film flow covering a single droplet containing several substances. Many fundamental questions are still unresolved in this multiphase convective mass transfer problem. In particular, we will study how advection processes inside the drop can influence the convective mass transfer. Effect of solubility and surface tension on the overall mass transfer can also be analysed. The project will explore these questions using a combination of experimentation, numerical simulations and theoretical analysis.
The project is suitable for an enthusiastic and creative candidate who has good knowledge in fluid mechanics and some experience in experimentation and numerical simulations.
Funding note:
Funding is available and would provide fees and maintenance at RCUK level for home/EU students, or a fees-only bursary for overseas students. Competitive bursaries are also available for overseas students to fully cover both fees and maintenance at RCUK level.
To apply: click HERE
