Computational Fluids Laboratory

Directors: K. Mahesh and T. Schwartzentruber

Location: 320 Akerman Hall

The computational fluids lab focuses on research modeling complex fluid flows. Research is conducted developing numerical methods and algorithms for use in the modeling of both turbulent flows and complex gas flows.

Professor Mahesh's group is involved in the computation, analysis, and modeling of turbulent flows using direct numerical and large-eddy simulation methods. Most of the simulations use unstructured grids on massively parallel computing platforms. Research applications include propeller flows, maneuvering vehicles, hydroacoustics, cavitation, jets in crossflow, superhydrophobic surfaces and flow over rough surfaces.

Professor Schwartzentruber's group focuses on the numerical simulation of complex gas flows for which the molecular nature of the gas must be explicitly accounted for. Such problems include gas-surface interactions and non-equilibrium flows found in both hypersonics and micro-flows. Research specialties include particle simulation methods such as direct simulation Monte Carlo, kinetic Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamics, and research includes both algorithm development and physical model development for the numerical methods.