Mesoscopic calculations of polymer drag reduction

It is known that the addition of a small concentration of polymer chains in a turbulent boundary layer reduces significant turbulent drag in this boundary layer.

The actual mechanisms that this happens and in particular the effect of polymer chains on the structure of turbulence in the boundary layer is a main topic of complex fluids research.

This PhD is concerned with the application of advanced numerical and algorithmic methods to this problem. It is based on mesoscopic formulation of the complex fluid boundary layer flow and the use of finite volume methods for computational fluid dynamics and Brownian methods for computational polymer dynamics for the solution of the corresponding equations.

Our group has developed the physics, numerics and algorithmics tools employed in this study and the PhD researcher will work with in-house codes and departmental parallel computers.  

In addition to undertaking cutting edge research, students are also registered for the Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Development (PGCert), which is a supplementary qualification that develops a student’s skills, networks and career prospects.

Information about the host department can be found by visiting the Department of Chemical & Process or our PhD in Chemical & process engineering page.