International Collaboration Sabbatical - Beyond Navier-Stokes: computational gas dynamics for rarefied flow technologies

This project is about helping transform UK capabilities in simulating and designing future technologies that depend on the flow of rarefied gases, including micro gas fuel cells for powering portable electronic devices with low environmental impact, micro aerodynamic control devices for aircraft, and high-speed high-altitude flight. In order to reach beyond the limitations of conventional fluid dynamic models, we propose new collaboration and knowledge exchange between leading research groups at the University of Strathclyde, the University of Michigan, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Together, we will create a unique suite of computational tools for the highly dilute gas conditions found at the microscale and in upper planetary atmospheres, that will bring to the UK a new international capability to tackle some of the most challenging engineering flow problems over the next 20 years.