Division of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics

People

On this page:

• Academic Staff Members
• Associate Academic Staff Members
• Postdoc Research Assistants
• Professional Services
• Current PhD Students
• PhD Graduates

Academic Staff Group Members

Dr Eldad Avital BSc(IITHaifa), MSc(Tel Aviv), PhD(Lond) CEng FRAeS Reader in Computational (& Experimental) Fluids and Acoustics Fluid Mechanics and acoustics: (i) Fundamentals: Computational Aero-Acoustics, Aerodynamics and Hydrodynamics, fluids-structure interaction, bio-fluids, particle flow. (ii) Applications: Power and thrust aero and marine production, wind and water turbines, water engineering, fusion energy, bio-fluids devices  +44 (0)20 7882 3616      e.avital@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Lorenzo Botto PhD Co-director of Division of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics / Senior Lecturer (equiv. Associate Professor) in Fluid Mechanics I am the leader of the Fluids, Particles and Interfaces Group (https://bottogroup.wordpress.com/). I am interested in fluid mechanics and transport phenomena, with particular focus on topics at the interface between classical fluid dynamics and materials science. My group uses simulations and theory, often corroborated by experimental results, to uncover fundamental engineering principles that can be applied to practical problems, in areas such as advanced materials, bioengineering, and energy engineering. Recurring topics of research in the group are the dynamics of particulate materials (suspensions, emulsions, powders, etc.) and the mechanics of soft interfaces. I lead the "Fluid Mechanics of Nanostructured Materials" Special Interest Group of the EPSRC-funded UK Fluids Network.  +44 (0)20 7882 3757      l.botto@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Neil Cagney PhD Lecturer My research is focused on experimental analysis of fluid flows, often using a combination of flow measurements techniques (e.g. Particle-Image Velocimetry, visualisation) and post-processing methods (e.g. Lagrangian analysis) to identify the underlying physics of a problem. Much of my work can be grouped into three main areas; flow-induced vibration, mixing/processing of complex (non-Newtonian) fluids and thermal convection. These problems have a wide range of applications across science and industry, and I regularly collaborate with process engineers, numerical modellers, mathematicians, rheologists and geophysicists.  +44(0)20 7882 8942      n.cagney@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Rafael Castrejon-Pita PhD Senior Lecturer in Applied Sciences Fluid Mechanics, Experimental Physics, Liquid Drops, Sprays and Jets, Optics, Instrumentation, Inkjet and 3D Printing  +44 (0)20 7882 7620      r.castrejonpita@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Jun Chen BSc (Honours), MSc (Distinction), PhD, FHEA Lecturer in Engineering Science My research interests lie at the interface of Computer Science, Operational Research and Control Engineering. Over the years, I have consolidated and structured my research along three themes: modelling, optimisation and decision, four cross-cutting application areas: intelligent decision support for airport operations, human factors & brain-computer interface, future flight deck automation systems and intelligent sewer networks, sponsored by EPSRC and industry and supported by the well-balanced research team consisting of senior academics, post-doctoral researchers and PhD students.  +44 (0)20 7882 8873      jun.chen@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Ahmed Ismail PhD, MSc, BSc Academic Fellow in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering Electrospray, Direct Printing, Microfluidics, Drops & Bubbles, Microencapsulation, Capillary jet.  +44 (0)20 7882 6272      a.ismail@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Sergey Karabasov BSc, MSc, PhD, DSc, FHEA Reader in Computational Modelling Fluid dynamics, computational aeroacoustics and aerodynamics, large-eddy simulations, meso-scale ocean modelling, fluctuating hydrodynamics for nano-scale flows , numerical methods for hyperbolic conservation laws  +44 (0)20 7882 7650      s.karabasov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Fariborz Motallebi BSc MEng PhD Senior Lecturer in Aerodynamics Flow Control, Aerodynamics of Sport Vehicles, High Speed Aerodynamics, Boundary Layer Flows, Instrumentation and Optical Diagnostics in Flow Measurements  +44 (0)20 7882 5182      f.motallebi@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Jens-Dominik Mueller Dipl-Ing, MSc, PhD Reader in Computational Fluid Dynamics and Optimisation Computational Fluid Dynamics, Fluid-Structure Interaction, Biofluids, Shape Optimisation, Adjoint methods, Mesh adaptation, Sensitivity Analysis.  +44 (0)20 7882 5421      j.mueller@qmul.ac.uk

Prof John Stark BSc(Exon) MSc(Man) PhD(Lond) FRAS FRAeS Professor of Aerospace Engineering Electrospray technology, spacecraft propulsion, Spacecraft Design, Direct printing  +44 (0)20 7882 8875      j.p.w.stark@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Yi Sui PhD, MInstP, Fellow HEA Reader in Fluid Mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 7763      y.sui@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Vassili Toropov PhD, FRAeS, AFAIAA Director of Division of Aerospace Engineering and Fluid Mechanics / Professor of Aerospace Engineering - Development of design optimization techniques for large-scale engineering problems - Applications to various engineering systems - Improvement of reliability and robustness of engineering systems - Optimization of composite structures - Inverse problems  +44 (0)20 7882 6296      v.v.toropov@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Ranjan Vepa BTech(IITMadras) MASc(Wat) PhD(Stan) Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering Dynamic modelling, control engineering, simulation, space & biomimetic robotics & UAVs, biomedical control systems, aeroelasticity, smart structures, flow control  +44 (0)20 7882 5193      r.vepa@qmul.ac.uk

Dr Pihua Wen BA MSc(CSU, Hunan) PhD(WIT) Reader in Computational Solid & Fluid Mechanics Solid and Fluid mechanics, fracture and damage, computational methods, numerical simulation in manufacturing and engineering  +44 (0)20 7882 5371      p.h.wen@qmul.ac.uk

Associate Academic Staff Group Members

Prof James Busfield MA, PhD, FHEA, FIMMM, CEng Professor of Materials Examining the physical behaviour by experiment and modelling techniques of soft matter such as elastomers and rubber materials. Properties of interest include abrasion, friction, fracture, creep, fatigue, viscoelastic behaviour, modulus enhancement and composite filler reinforcement. Developing smart soft materials that can sense their environment and soft actuating materials that can change shape in response to a physical stimulus.  +44 (0)20 7882 8866      j.busfield@qmul.ac.uk

Prof Wen Wang PhD, CEng, FIMechE, FAIMBE Vice-Principal and Executive Dean (Science & Engineering) Vascular endothelial mechanics, flow and solute transport in extracellular matrices, microcirculation, arterial haemodynamics, cell & tissue mechanics  +44 (0)20 7882 3031      wen.wang@qmul.ac.uk

Postdoc Research Associates

Dr Simon Gravelle PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant I have a PhD in nanofluidics. My expertise is mostly numerical (molecular dynamics, monte carlo, umbrella sampling, finite elements method). I have also performed experiments using Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.  s.gravelle@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lorenzo Botto

Dr Enric Grustan Postdoctoral Research Assistant My research focuses on the fabrication of arrays of electrospray sources for satellite propulsion (colloid thrusters). The research combines MEMS development, experimentation of the thruster array and physical modeling to optimize the performance and geometry of the thrusters.  enric.grustan@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: John Stark

Mr Chuan Gu Postdoctoral Research Assistant  c.gu@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lorenzo Botto

Dr Catherine Kamal Ph.D, MSci. Postdoctoral Research Assistant I apply mathematical modelling to engineering challenges relating to soft particles, capsules or vesicles in liquids, with an aim to create testable models of the materials in flow for advance in industrial application. For example, an understanding on the characterisation over the state of aggregation, shape or orientation of the soft nanoparticles in flow could identify new methods used to charactering and sort nanoparticles by their thickness and aspect ratio. Such size and thickness is essential for optimising applications such as polymer reinforcement. I am also interested in modelling physical singularities, such as those involved in moving contact lines.  c.kamal@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Lorenzo Botto

Dr Weiqi Li Postdoctoral Research Assistant  +44 (0)20 7882 7821      wei-qi.li@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Wen Wang

Dr Russell Quadros PhD Postdoctoral Research Assistant  r.quadros@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Jens-Dominik Mueller

Dr Michal Weiszer Postdoctoral Research Assistant Optimisation, metaheuristics, operational research and their applications such as airport operations and intelligent sewer networks.  m.weiszer@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Jun Chen

Dr Huihui Xia PhD Project Assistant  huihui.xia@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: John Stark

Miss Elham Zareian Post Doctoral Research Assistant  e.zareian@qmul.ac.uk  Supervisor: Jun Chen

Professional Services

Mr Mick Etheridge Lead Aerospace Technician Provides comprehensive technical support for staff and students in the School to enable the achievement of teaching and research aims and objectives. To be responsible for the operation and upkeep of the laboratory areas of Aero and I.C. Labs. Responsible for the instruction, guidance and supervision of staff and students in the use of laboratory equipment and techniques as appropriate.  +44 (0)20 7882 6577      m.etheridge@qmul.ac.uk

Current PhD Students

Name	Thesis Title	Supervisor
AGRAWAL, Adyant	Mathematical and computational modelling of exfoliation in liquids	Lorenzo Botto
AGROMAYOR OTERO, Roberto	TBC	Jens-Dominik Mueller
AMIT, Anam	Parallel Mutigrid and Mesh Refinement Methods	Jens-Dominik Mueller
AURIEMMA, Salvatore	TBC	Jens-Dominik Mueller
BEKE, Lilla	Multi-objective shortest path approach for routing and scheduling	Jun Chen
BONTOFT, Elliot	Research - Multidisciplinary multifidelity stochastic topology optimisation Title - Level Set Multidisciplinary Topology Optimisation	Vassili Toropov
CONTò, Francesco Paolo	The breakup of liquid jets. Fluid Mechanics	Rafael Castrejon-Pita
FERRERI, Alessandro	Double layer charging in electrospray thrusters for space applications	John Stark
JIA, Dongsheng	TBC	Vassili Toropov
LI, Fan	Multiscale modelling of nano-confined water systems	Sergey Karabasov
LIN, Tao	The dynamics of particles in flows with applications in material sciences and biomedical engineering	Yi Sui
LINDSAY, Gordon	Shape optimisation of winglets and wing appendages using CAD-based shape optimisation	Jens-Dominik Mueller
LU, Ruixin	Numerical simulation of cell dynamics in inertial flows	Yi Sui
NAZ, Nabila	Numerical simulation of electrohydrodynamics	Yi Sui
QUETZERI SANTIAGO, Miguel	Contact Angle Hysteresis,experimental validation of numerical methods and measurement techniques.	Rafael Castrejon-Pita
SAMAD, Hudair	Microfluidics for sorting circulating tumor cells	Yi Sui
TAGAR, Uroosa	Model based Monitoring of Atmospheric Pollutants in the Environment	Ranjan Vepa
WANG, Mingyang	River Flow Vegetation Dynamics	Eldad Avital
XU, Jin	TBC	Eldad Avital
YUAN, Yu	Navier Stokes flows with meshless finite block method	Pihua Wen
ZAMAN, Ar-Rafi	Controlling Ion Emission in a Colloid Thruster	John Stark
ZAREIAN, Elham	TBC	Jun Chen
ZHANG, Tianci	TBC	Jun Chen
ZHOU, Junjie	TBC	Pihua Wen

PhD Graduates

Name	Thesis Title	Supervisor(s)
2017
HÜKELHEIM, Jan	High Performance Flow Control & Shape Optimisation Solver	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Sergey Karabasov
MOZAFARI, Sahand	Optimal pump characteristic design for MCS devices suitable to different stages of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)	Theodosios Alexander, Fariborz Motallebi
SHEN, Xiang	Experimental and Numerical Study of Surface Curvature Effects on the Performance of the Aerofoils Used in Small Wind Turbines	Theodosios Alexander, Eldad Avital
WANG, Zhen	Motion of deformable capsules in complex flows	Yi Sui
OLLAR, Jonathan		Vassili Toropov
HUANG, Xuejiao	Design, Modelling and Fabrication of a Robotic Retractor for Colorectal Surgery	Pihua Wen, Ettore Barbieri
WANG, Yang	Robust and Stable discrete adjoint solver development for shape optimisation of incompressible flows with industrial applications	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Eldad Avital
TAO, Tianyi	Design modelling and control of a miniature robotic system for surgical applications	M Hasan Shaheed, Ranjan Vepa
2016
SU, Fang	Parallelization solutions for the YNANO Discontinua Simulations in 2D	Ante Munjiza, Pihua Wen
KRISHNAMOORTHY, Mahentha	Developing Cationic Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery	Julien Gautrot, John Stark
2015
SINGH, Gursharanjit	A Study of the Fluid Dynamic Coupling Between LP Steam Turbine and its Exhaust Hood	Andrew Wheeler, Jens-Dominik Mueller
XU, Shenren	Numerical shape optimisation of flow around turbomachinery blades	Jens-Dominik Mueller, Andrew Wheeler
SALEH, Zainab	An investigation into Turbine Blade Tip Leakage Flows at High Speeds	Eldad Avital, Theodosios Alexander
RAYAMAJHI, Milan	Efficient Methods for Robust Shape Optimisation for Crashworthiness	Fabian Duddeck, Jens-Dominik Mueller
BAI, Xin	Numerical Simulation of a Marine Current Turbine in Turbulent Flow	John Williams, Eldad Avital
2014
BAI, Xin	Numerical Simulation of a Marine Current Turbine in Turbulent Flow	John Williams, Eldad Avital
2013
CHRISTAKOPOULOS, Faidon	Sensitivity computation and shape optimisation in aerodynamics using the adjoint methodology and Automatic Differentiation	Jens Mueller
2012
IKRAM, Zaheer	Numerical investigation of the effect of free-surface flow past submerged bluff and streamlined bodies	John Williams, Eldad Avital
NAYEBOSSADRI, Shahrzad	Computational and Experimental Study of Nasal Cavity Airflow Dynamics	Eldad Avital, Fariborz Motallebi
2011
AHMAD, Arsalan	Experimental Aeroacoustics Study on Jet Noise Reduction Using Tangential Air Injection	Eldad Avital, Chris Lawn, John Cater
TU, Wei	Comeld Joints: Optimisation of Geometric Parameters of the Protrusions	Pihua Wen, Felicity Guild, Paul Hogg
2010
ADETORO, Oluwamayokun	Numerical Structure for Milling Proceses of Thin Wall Structures	Pihua Wen
RYAN, Charles	Influence of electrostatics upon electrospray with the intention of application to colloid thrusters	John Stark
SHELDON, Andrew	Visualization of fluid motions inside Taylor cones using dye tracer	John Stark
MD ZHAHIR, Md Amzari	Adaptive Filtering Applications to Satellite Navigation	Ranjan Vepa
TAN, Zhikai	Mechanisms involved in the electrospray of biological macromolecules	John Stark