Modelling and simulation

Modelling and simulation is cross-cutting to address computational modelling at multiple scales, informed and validated by unique experimental studies, and key to advancing fundamental engineering analysis.

Leading facilities

The Department's unique experimental facilities include a wide wave-current flume, multiple wind tunnels, and specialist thermal hydraulics facilities.

Modelling and simulation significantly enhances our deep, fundamental fluid and solid mechanics research. We have developed a new conceptual framework for solids modelling through fracture analysis, ab initio modelling of irradiation damage, in order to model the seismic response of the whole core of a reactor.

Turbulence modelling is a core topic, while conjugate thermal analysis and complex non-Newtonian flows and hypersonic flows are emerging research areas. Significant progress has been made with coupled fluid-structure interaction problems using a range of methods including superlative expertise in smoothed-particle hydrodynamics and Lattice Boltzmann solvers. Massively parallel computing is essential and novel efficient and inexpensive parallel computing is being advanced through GPUs (graphics processing units) and mobile platforms along with development of real-time CFD methods to enable the rapid evaluation of designs and for improved local simulation.

Experimentation is vital for understanding multiphase and highly non-linear flows and this is enabled by the Department's unique experimental facilities including a wide wave-current flume, multiple wind tunnels, specialist thermal hydraulics facilities for high pressure and high temperature conditions for rotating conditions at large-scale, and engine test laboratories.