PhD Studentship in Aeronautics: Turbulence under Strain (AE0096)

Start date: Between 1st August 2027 and 1st July 2028

Application deadline: 23:59 on 4th January 2027 (UK time)

Introduction: Richard Feynman famously quoted ‘turbulence is the most important unsolved problem of classical physics’. Understanding and modelling turbulent flow physics will unlock a vast potential for optimising many applications of the energy and transportation sectors. While the last century has produced breakthroughs in our understanding of turbulent flows, these are confined in two extreme and polar-opposite regimes: when turbulence is highly or when it is lowly strained. Still, the physics of the in-between regime of intermediate-strain, which is critical for a wide variety of engineering and environmental applications, remains unexplored.

This project will focus on uncovering the physics of intermediate-strain turbulent wakes. Apart from being of interest from a fundamental perspective, such wake conditions are widely encountered in automotive, aeronautical and wind engineering applications among many others.

Various bluff bodies will be tested in the lab, carefully designed so that their near wakes produce average strain rates that vary from low to high levels. You will then document the failure of classical theories to describe intermediate strain regimes. The produced data-set will subsequently be utilized to develop a novel theoretical framework for intermediate strain turbulence, based on the concept of ‘simple transportation of energy’ recently proposed by the PI, and validated for the simpler case of homogenous decaying turbulence. The project will rely on laboratory experiments, conducted in the state-of-the-art wind tunnel facilities of the Aeronautics Department, and will utilize high speed particle image velocimetry to characterize 2D and 3D turbulent velocity fields.

The proposed work falls under the theme of the ERC project ONSET awarded to the PI and its successful conclusion could potentially lay the basis for the development of novel turbulence closure models for intermediate strain conditions, where current models are known to be inaccurate.

Supervisors: Dr. Kostas Steiros

Duration: 3.5 years.

Funding: Full coverage of tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of £23,805 for Home, EU and International students. Find out more about fee status

Eligibility: Due to the competitive nature of our studentships, candidates will be expected to achieve/have achieved a First class honours MEng/MSci or higher degree (or international equivalent) in: Engineering, Applied Mathematics or Physics

How to apply: Visit Turbulence under strain for important instructions on how to apply.

Contact: For more information about a specific project, email: Dr. Kostas Steiros

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Frequently Asked Questions: You can also find answers to common application questions on our Frequently Asked Questions.

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