Multiple positions in experimants and CFD

Multiple, assistant researcher/research scientist/postdoctoral positions are available in a large, 4-year duration, Department of Defense program on “Release, Atmospheric Dispersal, and Environmental Fate of Liquid Agents”.  The effort is aiming to: (a) achieve a basic understanding of the physics of aero-breakup and dispersal of liquid agents in high-speed flows, (b) achieve a basic understanding of impact/spreading/absorption/reaction/evaporation of drops falling on various substrates, and (c) develop and validate computational tools covering the hierarchy of scales involved and purposes (from aiding scientific understanding to fast-running, applications oriented). The scope includes Newtonian as well as Visco-elastic liquids. Pertinent backgrounds and interests are summarized in the following:

    1. Experimental fluid dynamics. Background on optics and laser diagnostics is necessary. Experience in high speed gas dynamics (shock tubes, high speed wind tunnels) is desirable.

    2. Computational Fluid Dynamics.  Direct numerical simulation of interfacial instabilities in high speed flows.  Effective-field modeling of multi-fluid flows in supersonic “fluidization”.  Fluid-structure interactions under explosive loads and/or inertial impacts.  Strong programming skills, including Godunov-type methods, adaptive mesh refinement, unstructured grid, and parallel processing.

    3. Fluid Mechanics and Rheology. Theory and simulations toward interpretation of breakup/fluidization experiments, polymer solution “rupturing” at high strain rate flows, and solid-liquid interfacial dynamics as pertaining to wetting, reaction and depletion mechanics of liquid drops impacting porous substrates.

    Those selected will join a strong and collaborative team, and will find a significant infrastructure, including a pulse, supersonic wind-tunnel, a large-scale shock-tube/catch-chamber facility, state-of-the-art visualization instrumentation, an assortment of numerical tools, and a 112-node cluster.  Our research environment is flexible so as to maximize one’s interests and growth potential, and includes strong collaborative ties with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and NASA’s Glen Research Center.

Applicants please write to:

     Prof. Theo Theofanous, theo@engr.ucsb.edu,

     Prof. Meng-Sing Liou, msliou@engr.ucsb.edu,

And

     Dr. Chih-Hao Chang, chchang@engr.ucsb.edu

Please include your CV with a statement of purpose.  The position and remuneration will depend on applicant’s qualifications.