Research

Particle rafts

On the ocean surface, plastic debris commonly accumulates into large, floating clusters. These clusters are also referred to as particle rafts. The dynamics of these structures are a significant area of research, focusing on their interaction with underneath turbulence. Specifically, we are interested in the fundamental processes that govern their dispersion, deformation, fragmentation, and coalescence.

Free-surface flows

Free-surface flows are ubiquitous in nature, as seen at the surfaces of rivers, lakes, and oceans. Here, we focus on the fundamental dynamics of free-surface flows, such as spatial and temporal scales, topology, and structure functions. These further enable us to better understand essential questions including energy transfer among different scales and strong intermittency.

Bubble deformation and breakup

Deformation and breakup of bubbles affect the energy and mass transfer through the interface. We approach this problem by using 3D PTV and visual hull method which allow us to reconstruct simultaneously the 3D bubble geometry and the surrounding flow. This helps us probe the interaction between bubbles and eddies of different length scales in turbulence.

Deformation of fluid elements

Deformation of fluid elements in turbulence, which involves both stretching and folding, is the key process in turbulent mixing, as first described by Reynolds in 1894. Our understanding of the folding process, however, remains limited due to its inherent nonlinearity. Here, we model the folding of fluid elements in turbulence by examining their curvature, revealing the dominant folding mechanisms at different stages.