Fundamental Aspects of Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Multiphase and Multicomponent Systems.

Convective motions in fluids driven by surface tension and buoyancy effects are investigated. The research benificiates from the interaction between advanced theoretical, experimental and numerical techniques enabling a better understanding of the properties of interfaces separating fluid or solid phases, and of the coupling of interfacial phenomena, including phase-change, with bulk diffusive and convective processes. The VUB-Department of Fluid Mechanics focuses on the development of specific 3D numerical codes to simulate a variety of phenomena like convective motions, instabilities and pattern formations resulting from the coupling of surface tension and buoyancy effects. Special attention is paid to obtain reliable results in situations close to instability, specifically to anticipate spurious solutions or effects such as numerical bifurcation.