About the lab

Overview

The Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics (LabMFA) is one of the oldest laboratories of DEM/PEM at Politécnica/COPPE – UFRJ, therefore with a important traditional role in the university construction. Over approximately three decades of existence, LABMFA members have been orienting their activities towards the training of human resources and the development of new knowledge that provide scientific and technological advances in the areas of fluid mechanics (comprising one- and two-phase flows), aerodynamics, wind energy and atmospheric sciences. The training of human resources has been carried out at all levels, from scientific initiation programs, with undergraduate students, to postgraduate programs, with master's and doctoral students.

Research Focus

The laboratory has three main research areas are:

  1. Two-Phase Flows

Research on two-phase flows is an active area of investigation, with several future directions: Coupling Between Phases: Understanding the interactions between phases in complex systems. Interfacial Dynamics: Studying the motion of interfaces between phases. Optimization Techniques: Developing new methods to optimize system performance in two-phase flows. Two-phase flows are a fascinating and complex phenomenon that has numerous applications across various industries. While they pose several challenges, experimental and numerical methods provide valuable insights into their behavior and optimization techniques can improve system performance.

  1. Fluid-Structure Interactions

Interaction between fluids and structures: FSI simulations study the interaction between liquids, gases, and solids, predicting complex phenomena such as deformation and flow around complex objects. Computational complexity: FSI simulations require large computational resources due to the need to solve both fluid and structural equations simultaneously. Applications in various fields: FSI simulations have applications in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, and civil engineering, among others, enabling the design and optimization of complex systems.

  1. Atmospheric Sciences

Investigating the Atmospheric Boundary Layer using turbulence models, conservation equations, and numerical methods to better understand weather patterns and climate dynamics. Analyzing data from weather stations and other sources to identify trends and patterns in atmospheric conditions.

  1. Aerodynamics

Studying the behavior of fluids and gases in motion, with a focus on two-dimensional, incompressible flows around blunt bodies and aerodynamic bodies. Investigating the interaction between fluids and surfaces to improve wind tunnel designs.

  1. Wind Energy

Analyzing wind data collected by anemometers to predict the wind potential of a region and optimize wind energy production. Investigating new technologies and methods for increasing wind energy efficiency and reducing costs.

Global Partnerships

LabMFA has established partnerships with top research institutions worldwide, including:

  • University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
  • Imperial College (UK)
  • University of Bristol (UK)
  • Yokohama National University (Japan)
  • CDG – Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft e.V. (Germany)
  • University of Tulsa (USA)

Methodologies

LabMFA employs a range of cutting-edge methodologies, including:

  1. Semi-Lagrangian Method
  • A numerical method for simulating convective fluid flow with large time steps and Reynolds numbers
  • unconditionally spatial-temporal stability
  1. Moving Mesh
  • Replacement for high computational cost refining algorithms
  • Works for several mesh elements such as quadrilaterals, triangles, tetrahedrons etc.
  1. Discrete Vortex Method
  • A numerical method for simulating fluid flow and turbulence.
  • Used to analyze complex flows in aerodynamics and atmospheric sciences.
  1. Wind Tunnel Experiments
  • Used to test wind tunnel designs and optimize performance.
  • Allows researchers to collect data on air flow and pressure around surfaces.
  1. RAMS – Regional Atmospheric Modeling System
  • A numerical model for simulating the behavior of the atmosphere. Used to analyze data from weather stations and other sources to understand climate dynamics.

In undergraduate research programs, undergraduate students actively participate in all activities and usually work closely with a student or group of graduate students. Graduate programs, in turn, are always associated with scientific and technological research and development activities, and the students involved come not only from UFRJ itself, but also from other universities in Brazil and other countries in South America. South.

Implications and Applications

LabMFA's research has significant implications for various engineering fields, such as:

  1. Numerical Methods
  • Finite Element Method (FEM)
  • Finite Volume Method (FVM)
  • Finite Difference Method (FDM)
  • all of above using High-Order schemes
  1. Two-Phase Flows
  • deformable interfaces
  • interface-tracking and interface-capturing
  • surface force dominant flows
  1. Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
  • Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) methods
  • Immersed Finite Element Method (iFEM)
  1. Aeronautics
  • Flow around blunt bodies
  • Airfoil design
  • Aircraft performance optimization
  1. Naval Engineering
  • Riser and offshore platform designs
  1. Wind Energy
  • Optimizing wind energy production
  • Increasing efficiency and reducing costs

Training and Human Resources

LabMFA provides training opportunities for researchers and students at all levels, from undergraduate programs to postgraduate studies. The laboratory fosters collaboration with experts from other universities in Brazil and abroad, ensuring a diverse and dynamic research environment.

LabMFA also has a tradition of receiving recently graduated doctors and, mainly, professors from other universities, including those from abroad. In order to develop scientific and technological cooperation projects, formal and informal agreements are maintained with renowned institutions in the country and abroad. In the last decade, scientific cooperation agreements were signed in the areas of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics involving LABMFA and two renowned English universities, Imperial College and the University of Bristol, in addition to an informal cooperation with Yokohama National University, in Japan. In the area of Wind Energy, a technological cooperation program between LABMFA and the CDG – Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft e.V., a German Foundation linked to the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, ended recently. More recently, LAbMFA has established a cooperation with the Petroleum Engineering Laboratory at the University of Tulsa, OK, USA, in the area of two-phase flow in pipelines.