About the Project
Nature achieves remarkable flow control not through active actuation but through compliant, permeable surfaces that respond passively across a range of scales. Surface texture, compliance and porosity all play a key role. Engineered textiles can display similar behaviours. From sails and parachutes to fabric-covered aerodynamic surfaces, there is an opportunity to harness the potential for a Porous and ELastic (PEL) coating in practical engineering. This project focuses on the development and…
testing of a passive, multiscale flow-control surface, whose behaviour is defined by fine-scale geometric features and their ability to influence large-scale dynamics.
A PEL coating reconfigures itself in response to the bulk flow, altering near-wall dynamics and the resulting vortex shedding. By reducing the intensity and size of the recirculation region, it can lower form drag. Unlike classical vortex generators — which are rigid and act upstream of separation — a textile-based coating is passive and self-activating: it engages only once the boundary layer has separated, interacting directly with the recirculation zone. The multiscale coupling is central: pore-scale permeability governs local penetration and damping, while surface-scale elastic reconfiguration governs the global change to shedding. Specifically the project will have the following objectives:
- Develop a high-fidelity fluid–structure interaction (FSI) framework resolving the coupled, multiscale behaviour of a porous, elastic coating in a cross-flow.
- Characterise how pore- and surface-scale response together reorganise the recirculation and act to attenuate vortex shedding.
- Quantify flow control across a range of Reynolds numbers and coating parameters (permeability, stiffness, anisotropy, coverage).
- Establish scaling laws linking microstructure to aerodynamic performance on realistic geometries.
The work will build on lattice Boltzmann and coupled LBM–finite-difference/finite-volume solvers, well suited to resolving pore-scale flow through porous media and moving fluid–structure interfaces. Immersed-boundary and partitioned coupling strategies will capture the coating's reconfiguration under aerodynamic loading, represented as an anisotropic porous-elastic medium. Simulations will be validated against canonical separated-flow benchmarks and executed on the University's High Performance Computing facilities. The candidate will be provided with all necessary training on the relevant techniques. There is an opportunity in this project to work in collaboration with experimental researchers who make use of the Human Performance Tunnel based at the British Cycling Team, also in Manchester
This project is expected to start in September 2027.
Before you apply: We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply.
How to apply: To be considered for this project you must complete a formal application through our online application portal. If you already have an applicant account this link will directly open an application for PhD School of Engineering Scholarships. If you don't already have an applicant account, please follow the instructions here.
When applying, please specify the full title and supervisor/s of the project, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. You must also upload a Supporting Statement describing the motivation to apply to the project, your CV and transcripts of awarded and in-progress university qualifications. Please note late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester and central to all our activities. A diverse research community strengthens creativity, productivity and quality, while increasing the societal and economic impact of our work. We welcome applicants from all career paths, backgrounds and sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation or transgender status.
We welcome applications from candidates returning to study after a career break or experience in other roles. Flexible study arrangements may be available, including part-time study at 50%, 60% or 80%, subject to the requirements of the project and funder.
Eligibility: The standard academic entry requirement for this PhD is an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree (or international equivalent) in Engineering, Physics or Maths OR any upper-second class (2:1) honours degree and a Master's degree at merit (or international equivalent) in Engineering, Physics or Maths.
This project will remain open until filled.
If your application is submitted by 1st November 2026, you can expect a decision by 18th December 2026.
If your application is submitted by 15th January 2027, you can expect a decision by 30th March 2027.
Self or externally funded students can also be considered for this project.
Funding Notes
Funding for this project covers tuition fees, UKRI minimum annual stipend (currently £21,805/annum) and up to a £2.5k/annum research training support grant for the full duration of the 3.5-year programme.