Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics

The Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics is comprised of researchers from the School of Mathematics and the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. Research within the group is based upon the application of a combined approach of theoretical modelling, computation and detailed quantitative experimental investigations of nonlinear phenomena.

Granular jets and hydraulic jumps on an inclined planeMulti-component particle-size segregation in shallow granular avalanchesGravity-driven granular free-surface flow around a circular cylinderRaleigh-Taylor instability in a finite cylinderParticle-size segregation in dense granular avalanchesUnderlying asymmetry within particle size segregationSegregation induced finger formation in granular free-surface flows

Latest News: Work at the MCND on the curling of ribbons has been featured in a BBC News article. For more details see Anne Juel's site or our paper in PNAS.

Features

Granular fingering and segregation-mobility feedback

A bidisperse granular avalanche exhibits a frontal instability which evolves into levee-channelised 'fingers'.

Pattern-switching in elastic media.

A pattern switch induced by the compression of a two-dimensional elastic foam. A square array of holes is transformed into an array of ellipses with their major axes arranged in orthogonal directions.

Attractors from Taylor-Couette flow.

The left one is from a quasiperiodic flow and the right one from a chaotic flow.

Bubbles propagating through expansions and contractions:

Semi-infinite and finite bubbles, propagating through a fluid filled channel of varying geometries. These have applications in microfluidics and the hydrocarbon industry.

Viscous fingering under an elastic membrane.

Above a critical flow rate of air injection into a oil-filled elastic cell, the interface becomes unstable and an unusual fingering pattern develops.