SEMS Research: Modelling and Simulation in Engineering Systems

Overview

The School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary has a long tradition of simulation and modelling research activity spanning theoretical, numerical and experimental applications in mechanical, aeronautical, civil engineering, materials development and characterisation, biomedicine, and the sciences. This strong tradition continues with ongoing and planned activity in the future.

On numerical modelling and simulation we are conducting world-leading research on development and multi-disciplinary applications of innovative simulation tools using finite element methods (FEM), discrete finite element method (DFM), meshless methods, boundary element methods (BEM) and adjoint optimization methods, and automatic control methods. Sample applications are in fluid dynamics of traditional engineering, bioengineering, mechanical and aeronautical structures, material properties, multi-phase flows, fluid-structure interactions, optimal shape design etc. Numerical modelling in computational fluid dynamics has progressed from Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computations to Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) aimed at resolving turbulence modelling at ever smaller scales of fluid flow. Again members of the SEMS team pioneered the work in LES and DNS, and are leading collaborators in the UK turbulence consortium. Modelling and Simulations applications have lately expanded in fluid-structure interactions coupled with materials properties in targeted applications, for instance in rotor-tower-material interactions in wind turbines, platelet-plasma-tissue interaction in blood flow, and urine-tissue interactions in the human body. Our research includes topology optimisation addressing highly nonlinear problems (turbomachines and renewable energy systems, crash, turbulent fluids), in shape optimisation studying complex structures (complete car bodies for crash, aerodynamics, turbomachinery rotor aerodynamics etc) and in combination with robust design and reliability. In other work we are modelling emissions predictions from various powerplants fuelled by renewable and sustainable fuels, and designed-to-specification fluids, with traditional reduction and with other novel techniques (that do not involve reduction), coupled with verification by experimental modelling.  Many applications of numerical modelling are with the engineering industry (automotive, aerospace, power industry, numerical heat transfer predictions, novel powerplants and simulation of in-cylinder flows and powerplant emissions, but also cardiovascular flows, cardiovascular system modelling etc). Activity is expanding into the biomedical and functional materials field and in traditional fields such as metallurgy and castings.

Experimental modelling and simulation activity concentrates in aerodynamics, energy-conversion systems, fuels and novel powerplants, heat transfer, in modelling the human cardiovascular system, and in various renewable-energy materials-characterization techniques. Our world-famous low turbulence and other specialty wind tunnels are used in aerodynamics, fluid flow, flow control, turbulence modelling, and fluid-structure interactions using hot-wire, lasers and specialty techniques. Our anechoic chamber is used for noise studies in jet and other engine flows. Sustainable-fuels and energy-conversion systems research for gas turbines, reciprocating-piston engines, and various novel engine arrangements is conducted in our unique high-pressure combustor facility (can provide continuous flow at 60 bar for up to 30 minutes) and in similarly-unique optical-access reciprocating-piston engines. In these facilities we model the effects of fuel composition, flame propagation, energy-conversion system-design aspects, and other factors using emissions-measuring equipment, analytic techniques, high-speed video recording, and laser measurements. In addition to various specialty experimental setups modelling novel power and propulsion and energy conversion systems, we also conduct two-phase flow heat transfer research of international reputation in three different experimental laboratories, coupled with numerical simulations, aiming at improving the performance of HVAC systems. Recently we have also developed a world leading experimental capability for in-vitro modelling of the whole human cardiovascular system, in various healthy and diseased conditions, with and without the use of mechanical circulatory support turbomachinery-based devices. This work is aimed at in-vitro modelling advanced biological aspects of the human cardiovascular system, in developing mechanical circulatory support devices and other cardiac prosthetic devices. 

Research Student Graduates

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