Our Research Areas
We combine rigorous numerical method development with physics-driven investigation of unsteady flow phenomena across four interconnected research thrusts.
Fluid–Metamaterial Interaction
We study how engineered mechanical metamaterials interact with unsteady aerodynamic flows. These structures can exhibit unusual effective properties, such as tailored stiffness, band gaps, and direction-dependent responses, which may lead to new forms of passive or semi-passive flow control.
Our goal is to understand how these material properties influence the coupled fluid–structure dynamics when the metamaterial is embedded in or attached to aerodynamic surfaces such as airfoils. By analyzing the resulting motion, loading, vortex dynamics, and wake response, we aim to identify mechanisms that can improve aerodynamic performance.
Modal Analysis of Fluid Flows
We use modal analysis techniques to identify coherent structures, dominant frequencies, and amplification mechanisms in unsteady fluid flows. These approaches help reduce complex flow fields into physically interpretable modes that reveal the organizing dynamics of the system.
Our work draws on data-driven methods such as proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), as well as operator-based approaches connected to the Navier–Stokes equations, including linear stability analysis and resolvent analysis.
Bio-Inspired Design
We draw inspiration from nature to develop innovative solutions for fluid dynamics problems. Our work focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms of biological systems and translating these insights into engineering applications.
Examples include the study of bird flight mechanics, and the design of bio-inspired micro air vehicles.
Numerical Method Development
Advances in computational fluid dynamics depend on robust, efficient numerical methods. We develop novel immersed boundary formulations for unsteady incompressible flows.
A major effort is the open-source Julia package Immersa.jl, which provides a modular, high-performance framework for immersed boundary simulations on structured grids.
Collaborations & Funding
We welcome collaborations with academia and industry on problems involving unsteady flows, numerical methods, and computational engineering. Current support includes grants from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), National Science Foundation (NSF), and internal UIUC funding.
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