Fluid Dynamics

About This Grant

The Fluid Dynamics program supports fundamental research and education on mechanisms and phenomena governing fluid flow. Proposed research should contribute to basic understanding; thus enabling the better design; predictability; efficiency; and control of systems that involve fluids. Encouraged are proposals that address innovative uses of fluids in materials development; manufacturing; biotechnology; nanotechnology; clinical diagnostics and drug delivery; sensor development and integration; energy and the environment. Current research themes include: General Fluid Mechanics: experimental and theoretical dynamics of Newtonian fluids; laminar flows, transitional flows, and turbulence; hydrodynamic stability; flow of compressible fluids. Flow of Complex Fluids: non-Newtonian fluid mechanics; viscoelasticity; flow of polymer solutions and melts; gelation; flow instability; flow-induced structuring; DNA dynamics; molecular dynamics simulations. Micro- Nano- Bio- Fluid Mechanics: micro-and nano-scale flow phenomena; biomedical microdevices; effects of nanoscale inclusions on rheological properties; flow of Brownian suspensions; biomimetics; biological flow processes. Turbulence and Flow Control: large eddy simulation; direct numerical simulation; high Reynolds number experiments; stability and transition to turbulence; 3-D boundary layers; multi-phase turbulent flows; flow control; insect flight; gas-liquid interfaces. Waves and Hydraulics & Environmental Fluid Mechanics: airfoil-land interactions; waves and coastal engineering; wave-sea bed interactions; wave-structure interactions; stratified flows; sediment transport; air pollution models; gravitational plumes. Computational Fluid Dynamics: multi-scale; multi-phenomena models and computations; flow simulation; virtual experiments; cyber infrastructure for fluid dynamics research; data handling; analysis of experiments Instrumentation and Flow Diagnostics: Instrument development; MEMS; shear stress sensors; Magnetic Resonance Imaging for engineering flow; velocimetry; flows in biomedical assistive devices.Proposals should address the novelty of the concept being proposed, compared to previous work in the field. Also, it is important to address why the novelty might be important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and /or industry of success in the research. The information requested in this paragraph should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal. The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $90,000. Small equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows. Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review. The duration of CAREER awards is five years. The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Please see the following URL for more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08051/nsf08051.jsp.Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission. Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) replace the SGER program. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Further details are available in the PAPPG download, available below. Please refer to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), January 2010, (NSF 10-1) when you prepare your proposal. The PAPPG is available for download at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf101