Research

Overview

Our group specializes in physics-based computational modeling/simulations of fluid flows involving multiscale/multiphysics phenomena, focusing on (but not limited to) multiphase flows, turbulent flows, and fluid-structure interaction. We also develop robust numerical methods and use tools such as artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Applications include propulsion, energy, aerospace design, thermal science, environment, climate, and many more.

We hope to become the global epicenter for computational fluids research in the upcoming years!

Atomization and Sprays

  • Physics of primary and secondary breakup

Liquid jet atomization in swirling cross flow

(Ref: Prakash & Jain et al., AAS, 2019)

Secondary breakup of drops

(Ref: Jain et al., IJMF, 2019)

Interfacial flow modeling

High-fidelity simulation of ECN Spray A

(Refs: Jain, JCP, 2022; Hwang & Jain, JCP, 2024)

DNS of droplet and bubble-laden isotropic turbulence

(Refs: Jain et al., JCP, 2020; Jain & Moin, JCP, 2022; Kumar et al., 2025)

  • Diffuse-interface modeling for two-phase flows
  • Robust numerical methods for incompressible and compressible flows
  • Unstructured grid formulations for complex geometries

Turbulent flow over rough walls and conjugate heat transfer

  • Wall-modeled LES of complex aircraft geometries with roughness
  • LES of conjugate heat transfer (CHT) over flow over rough walls

KES wall model for turbulent flow over rough surfaces

(Ref: Bornhoft & Jain et al., Aviation, 2024)

CHT in turbulent boundary layer over ice roughness

(Ref: Zabaleta et al., PRF, 2025)

Ice accretion

Droplet impact on a three-element airfoil

(Ref: Jain et al., SAE, 2023)

Wall-modeled LES of turbulent flow over swept wing with scallop ice

(Ref: Bornhoft & Jain et al., AST, 2024; Bornhoft, Moin, & Jain et al., JoA, 2025)

  • Droplet impingement and splashing on aircraft
  • Ice accretion modeling

Scalars and surfactant transport

  • Numerical modeling of transport of passive and active scalars
  • Scalars represent charged ions in two-phase electrochemical systems, surfactants, dissolved salts, and CO2 in the ocean

Scalar transport in a turbulent channel flow laden with drops

(Ref: Jain, JCP, 2024; Jain, arXiv, 2025)

Breaking waves and CO2 dissolution

(Ref: Mirjalili & Jain et al., IJHMT, 2022)

Particle-laden flows

Particle clustering in the log-layer of a turbulent channel flow

(Ref: West et al., IJMF, 2024)

Particle-laden isotropic turbulence

(Ref: Oujia & Jain et al., TCFD, 2024)

  • Physics of turbulence modulation by particles
  • A.I. models for prediction of particle clustering in turbulence
  • Correction methods for disturbance created by particles in two-way coupled flows

Fluid-solid and solid-solid interactions

  • Eulerian modeling of fluid-solid and solid-solid interactions
  • Highly deformable bodies
  • Turbulent flow over compliant surfaces
  • Marine energy harvesting

Collision of two hyperelastic solids in a Taylor-Green vortex

(Ref: Jain & Kamrin et al., JCP, 2019)

Richtmyer-Meshkov instability of Copper-Aluminum materials

(Ref: Jain, Adler, & West et al., JCP, 2023)

Compressible flows, shocks, and turbulence

Isotropic turbulence with shocklets

(Ref: Jain et al., PRF, 2024)

  • LES of compressible turbulence
  • Low-dissipative shock-capturing methods
  • High-speed flows

Scientific computing

  • High-performance computing and GPU acceleration
  • Machine learning for fluids
  • Quantum computing for fluids

Frontier supercomputer

Quantum computer

(Ref: Griffin & Jain et al., 2019)