(From left): Oscar Curet, Ph.D.; Siddhartha Verma, Ph.D.; and Colm-cille Caufield, Ph.D., editor-in-chief of the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, at the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City last month.

Researchers from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University have received prestigious recognition from the Journal of Fluid Mechanics (JFM) as this year’s “Emerging Scholar Best Paper 2023,” announced last month. Each year the prize is awarded to the best paper published in JFM with a first author who either has not yet received their Ph.D. or has received their Ph.D. within two years of the paper being published.

The winner and first author of the paper titled, “Porous Cylinder Arrays for Optimal Wake and Drag Characteristics,” is Aishwarya S. Nair, Ph.D. Nair received her Ph.D. from FAU’s Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering earlier this year. Co-authors of the paper are Amirkhosro Kazemi, Ph.D.; a postdoctoral research associate; Oscar Curet, Ph.D., an associate professor; and Siddhartha Verma, Ph.D., an associate professor, all within the FAU Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering.

The FAU engineering team’s winning paper was selected from among nearly 400 eligible papers published in JFM, showcasing the breadth and depth of excellent research being undertaken by students and early post-doctoral researchers in fluid mechanics.

“I am immensely proud of Dr. Nair and her outstanding mentors and co-authors for receiving this prestigious recognition from the Journal of Fluid Mechanics,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean, FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science. “This honor is a testament to the exceptional talent, dedication and innovation within our college. It emphasizes the groundbreaking contributions our faculty and students are making to the field of fluid mechanics, advancing not only scientific knowledge but also practical solutions to some of today’s most complex challenges. Achievements like these reinforce our commitment to fostering an environment where curiosity thrives, and where researchers are empowered to make a lasting impact on the world.”

The FAU engineering’s winning paper highlights the team’s research to help design better coastal protection systems inspired by mangroves by showing how root-like structures can be optimized to protect shorelines more effectively.

Mangroves, which grow in coastal tropical and subtropical areas, have root systems that naturally act as barriers to reduce wave energy and prevent sediment erosion. The researchers used simplified models – porous arrays of cylinders – to study how mangrove roots interact with water flow. By combining experiments with computer simulations, they explored how different arrangements of these cylinders affect water movement and the forces (like drag) they create.

The researchers optimized cylinder placements to balance two key goals: maximizing drag (to slow water and protect against waves) and minimizing enstrophy (to promote sediment settling and reduce erosion).

The goal was to find the best configurations of these “root models” to maximize their effectiveness at blocking waves (increasing drag) while minimizing chaotic water flow (enstrophy), which can lead to erosion. Using advanced tools like particle tracking and flow analysis, scientists identified how the positioning of these cylinder models impacts their performance. They discovered that small changes in arrangement can significantly alter how the water flows around and through them, affecting their ability to reduce erosion.

Four configurations were analyzed in detail, revealing that subtle changes in cylinder placement significantly affected flow patterns and performance. High-drag setups redirect water around the array, creating strong vortices but limiting particle retention. Low-enstrophy setups allowed water to flow through gaps, reducing turbulence and encouraging sedimentation.

These findings emphasize the importance of precise cylinder placement in designing coastal defenses that mimic natural systems. The research highlights the potential for optimized porous structures to effectively reduce erosion and protect shorelines.

-FAU-