Investigation of superimposed inertial particle migration onto fluid flow through a periodic microfluidic duct
Application process
A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm 22 September 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
Project number
112
Project description
The project aims to compute a steady laminar fluid flow through a periodic microfluidic device and trace particles trajectories with a superimposed simplified inertial lift force model. The successful applicant will be working with Brendan Harding in the School of Mathematics and Statistics.
Experience with ordinary and partial differential equations and scientific computing (preferably in the Python programming language) is essential for this project. Additionally, experience in perturbation methods is desirable.
The outcomes are anticipated to include a model of flow through a curvilinear periodic geometry, a code to estimate a fluid flow utilising open source finite element software (via a Python interface), and a preliminary study of migration dynamics by applying standard ODE solvers to a superposition of the fluid velocity field and an (existing) inertial lift force approximation.
This project is for a single student.
Location
Mainly working remotely or flexibly
Supervisor
Senior Lecturer
School of Mathematics and Statistics