The research activities of our group lie primarily on the fields of Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics with particular emphasis on the fundamentals of multi-phase flows, complex fluids, reacting flows, and electrohydrodynamics. Our activities cover: development of mathematical models for the flows of interest, algorithm development for these models together with software verification & validation, and detailed numerical simulations via high performance computing.
With regard to multi-phase flows, our current research activities focus on
- fluid-saturated granular materials and granular suspensions with application to sediment transport in coastal and fluvial environments,
- pneumatic conveying of powders with application to process industries,
- flows through porous media with application to heat-transfer enhancement, and
- liquid-gas systems with applications to nuclear-reactor safety.
With regard to reacting flows, we are currently pursuing research on both subsonic and supersonic combustion. Examples include spray combustion, gaseous detonations, and two-phase detonations. Also, we are conducting both theoretical and numerical studies of thermal frontal polymerization.
Funding of these ongoing projects is provided by the European Commission, the National Fund of Scientific Research of Belgium (FNRS), the Belgian Federal Ministry of Energy and the private sector.