I&IP - I for Interface: The first research theme of the group is the modelling and simulation of flows involving an interface, in particular thin liquid films and drops. The scope was recently broaden to encompass moving boundary problems in mechanics such as materials experiencing a phase change or flow-induced morphodynamics.
I&IP - IP for Inverse Problem: The second research theme of the group is inverse problems for which one seeks the unknown causes of observed consequences. Because interfaces deform as a result of external forcing, they contain a signature of this external forcing. The group has developed numerical techniques to decipher this signature and indirectly estimate unobservable quantities in the field of geophysical flows and interfacial flows or to infer an unknown boundary condition or a material property from sparse data in the context of heat transfer or material forming. The group also focuses on flow controls and specifically how to control the shape or the dynamics of an interface.
Numerical methods and applied mathematicsare at the core of the above themes and are therefore important research topics of the group which have led to other research directions including hemodynamics, cryogenics, swimming robots, jetpack flight mechanics, etc.
The review paper “Inverse problems in free surface flows” summarizes the research field of the team: Sellier, M. (2016). Inverse problems in free surface flows: a review. Acta Mechanica, 227(3), 913-935. doi: 10.1007/s00707-015-1477-1
