Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics

The Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics is comprised of researchers from the Department of Mathematics and the Department 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

A semi-infinite air finger propagates into an elastic-walled channel initially filled by a viscous fluid. The influence of gravity causes asymmetries in the channel wall shapes and in the thicknesses of the fluid films above and below the finger, leading to a monotonic relationship between the air pressure and finger speed.
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Granular fingering and segregation-mobility feedback

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

Attractors from Taylor-Couette flow.

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

Viscous fingering under a cellophane sheet.

Air is injected at constant flow rate into an oil-filled elastic cell, coupling a fingering instability to the wrinkling of the cellophane sheet.

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.