About the project
Are you concerned about the microplastic contamination in our water bodies? This project broadly falls into the disciplines of vortex dynamics, bubble dynamics, and vortex-bubble interactions. The potential outcomes of this project will shed light on previously unknown effects of surfactants on bubble-vortex interactions. This could lead us towards scaling laws that will help in advanced modelling and prediction, paving way for new methods of microplastic retrieval from water bodies.
According to a 2015 report, between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans worldwide every year depending on the country and is slated to increase by an order of magnitude by 2025 without improvements in waste management. Microplastics are found in the food we eat, water we drink, and air we breathe, affecting the health of our ecosystem in various ways. If you have spent sleepless nights thinking about this problem like us, and you want to be part of a vibrant, international team trying to find possible solutions, then this PhD position might just be for you!
Often, microplastics bind to bubbles generated in the water sources and act as surfactants. They are then released into the air when bubbles burst at the surface of the water body. We think that this phenomenon can be leveraged to retrieve microplastics from the water bodies by intentionally transporting microplastic-coated bubbles to a catchment area and further filtering them out using established methods.
One of the available modes of material transport in water bodies are large scale vortices that are constantly generated and transported by surface and underwater vehicles, shear flows, and natural turbulence.
This project aims to understand the viability and benefits of using such large-scale vortices to effectively transport surfactant-laden bubbles in a flow. While bubble-vortex interactions are well documented in various engineering applications, there is a gap in the understanding the dynamics of a vortex with no axial flow that can trap a surfactant-coated bubble in its core and transport it to a certain distance.
Physical experiments will be carried out using state-of-the-art tools to obtain high-fidelity data that can be used to map the bubble and vortex characteristics for a range of conditions.
Motivated candidates with knowledge/interest in aerodynamics, bubbles, design, experimentation, and data analysis are encouraged to apply. Any experience with imaging techniques would be beneficial.
Through this project, you will enhance your skills and knowledge in motion control, unsteady vortex dominated flows, bubble dynamics, building rigorous experimental set-ups, coding (image/ signal processing), scientific planning, writing, and presentation (international exposure) amongst others.
You will have access to training in general manufacturing skills in our extensive workshops.
You will have the opportunity to work with the tight-knit PhDs and postdocs of the Experimental Fluids Group at Southampton who will be a part of your network.
