Research output per year
Research output per year
Dr
Research activity per year
I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and current Course Director for Mathematics. Following the completion of my PhD, I undertook postdoctoral Research Associate roles at Cardiff University (2007-2008), University of Western Australia (2008-2011), and Imperial College London (ICL, 2011-2017) and a Lecturer role at Monash University (2017-2019). During 2013 I undertook a role as Aerodynamic Researcher at Airbus Group Innovations (AGI).
My research interests are in the field of fluid mechanics, particularly in laminar-turbulent transition processes.
Rotating flows
The flow that develops on a rotating disc displays many of the fluid dynamic mechanisms that trigger laminar-turbulent transition on a swept wing. My research has brought about new insights into the linear stability characteristics of the rotating disc boundary layer and shown that the flow is globally unstable.
Unsteady flows
The Stokes layer is the archetype unsteady flow used to describe blood flow in the heart and air flow in the lungs. My research has revealed a new form of disturbance development, a so-called family-tree structure. Additionally, my research has demonstrated that perturbing the Stokes layer by as little as 1% can excite unstable behaviour at flow conditions that match experimental observations.
Receptivity
Receptivity describes the initial stage of the laminar turbulent transition process, whereby environmental disturbances transform into perturbations within the boundary layer. Such environmental disturbances can include free-stream noise, vortex structures and surface roughness. Utilising an adjoint based approach, I have developed methods for instantaneously predicting the initial amplitude of disturbances to randomly distributed surface roughness, and optimising parameter settings for laminar flow control.
Modelling surface variations
Surface deformations (gaps, bumps and steps) and roughness occur on the surfaces of aeroplane wings. My research at ICL and AGI led to the development of a new computational tool, RANS Extracted Boundary Layer or REBL, which permitted the analysis of separated flow systems engineered by surface variations that could not otherwise be investigated by the academic/industrial partners.
Research capabilities
I have research expertise in the following areas:
Seeking excellent students with a strong background in mathematical modelling, to undertake research in laminar-turbulent transition.
Possible project topics
Current supervision
Past supervision
Designed, convened and lectured the following units. (Units marked * currently teaching.)
Mathematics, PhD, Numerical simulations of disturbance development in rotating boundary layers, Cardiff University
2003 → 2007
Award Date: 12 Dec 2007
Mathematics, BSc (Hons), Cardiff University
2000 → 2003
Award Date: 30 Jun 2003
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract › peer-review
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract › peer-review
Thomas, Christian (Recipient), 21 Nov 2022
Prize: Teaching award