ProfessorSteven Armfield

Professor Steve Armfield investigates the fluid mechanics of a range of environmental and industrial flows using computational, theoretical and experimental approaches, leading to applications as diverse as improved river management and the design of more efficient building ventilation systems.

"My main focus is on the development of computational models and algorithms to allow the prediction of highly unsteady, buoyancy-driven and -dominated flows, such as the natural convection boundary layers that develop adjacent to vertical heated surfaces, the two-layer mixing flow that occurs when a lighter fluid passes over a denser fluid, and thermal fountains and plumes.

"Such flows occur in many environmental and industrial settings, such as in rivers, estuaries and atmospheric boundary layers, and in building heating, cooling and ventilation.

"My research has made a substantial contribution to the understanding of the mechanism of flow initiation and transition, and has led to improved computational models for these flows that will inform the development of river management strategies, large-scale fluid dynamics models and the design of heating, ventilation and cooling systems.

"I joined the academic staff of the University of Sydney in 1996, having previously completed my PhD here. I was Head of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering from 2008 till 2015. I have held academic positions at other Australian universities as well as research positions in Japan and the US."