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 granular flow around an obstacle, and the shape of the static deposit it leaves behind, are sensitive to details of the granular friction. In particular, frictional hysteresis is a crucial part of the physics at the interface between flowing and static grains. Read more...

A symmetry breaking pattern switching phenomenon is observed in 2D granular media under compression. When the undeformed configuration on the left is compressed, rigid cylinders (white) form pairs, resulting from the buckling of columns of elastic cylinders (purple).

Granular shocks in shallow free-surface flows

Granular avalanches exhibit discontinuous shocks and bores with complex interaction dynamics.

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.