Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
There exists some exact solutions to a number of nonlinear free boundary problems that model withdrawal of fluid from a porous medium (soil, say), including the effects of gravity. Similar models arise when modelling flow of a viscous fluid through a so-called Hele-Shaw cell, although in this case gravity may be acting perpendicular to the flow. In the Hele-Shaw literature, there are a number of open problems related to the evolution of a cusp, and the effect that surface tension has on the flow. An honours project could be to analyse the groundwater flow problems, and try to reconcile with some of the Hele-Shaw literature. Does adding surface tension to the groundwater flow problem tell us anything about the Hele-Shaw problem? The project would involve sophisticated analytical techniques (such as complex variable methods) and computational work. The supervisors would be Dr Scott McCue and PhD student Michael Dallaston.
- Study level
- Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
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Please contact the supervisor.
Associate Professor Scott McCue
