Overview

Associate Professor Greg Sheard has secured over $2.2 million Australian Dollars of Nationally Competitive Grant income, an Australian Postdocoral Fellowship (2005-2007), continuous time allocations on National high-performance computing facilities, and numerous Faculty and University grants.

Major nationally competitive grants awarded to our group are listed below.

ARC Discovery Project DP180102647

"Horizontal convection at ocean-relevant proportions" - $468,485 over 2018-2020

Investigators: Sheard, G.J.

Summary: This project aims to determine the role of buoyancy differences from solar radiation and vertical confinement. Flows created by lateral variation in heat or buoyancy are poorly understood when the horizontal length greatly exceeds the height, precisely the conditions relevant to industry and understanding the role of horizontal convection in Earth's oceans and in turn the delicate current system that maintains Earth's temperate climate. This project proposes computational and experimental efforts to probe the ultimate regime of heat transport in very shallow horizontal convection, benefiting humankind through improvements to future ocean and climate modelling efforts.

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award

$358,551 over 2018-2020

Investigators: Dubsky, S.

Summary: This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to measure gas transport and mixing within lungs. This project will study the mechanical workings of the lungs, using an innovative approach for analysis of lung images. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function. It is anticipated that application of the project outcomes to medical challenges in the long-term will lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for lung diseases.

The Royal Society International Exchanges 2017/R1, Grant number IE170034

"Transition to quasi-two-dimensional turbulence" - £12,000 over 2017-2019

Investigators: Pothérat, A. & Sheard, G.J.

ARC Discovery Project DP150102920

"The elusive upper bound of heat transfer in horizontal convection" - $375,100 over 2015-2017

Investigators: Sheard, G.J.

Summary: The question as to whether lateral variation in global ocean buoyancy resulting from low solar radiation near the poles and higher temperatures in the tropical regions (known as horizontal convection) is a driver for global ocean currents is critical to our understanding of this complex and delicate system that maintains Earth's temperate climate. This question hinges on the relationship between heat transport and strength of buoyancy forcing towards global scales; this project proposes a landmark experimental effort supported by detailed simulations to probe the ultimate regime of heat transport in horizontal convection. The project is expected to inform the direction of future ocean and climate modelling efforts to the benefit of humanity.

ARC Discovery Project DP150102240

"Hybrid imaging/modelling: A new paradigm for understanding the lung" - $334,400 over 2015-2017

Investigators: Fouras, A., Sheard, G.J. & Thompson, B.R.

Summary: Our lungs are essential to sustain our lives, yet the details of lung biomechanics are barely understood because the available tools, imaging, modelling and simulation have significant limitations. Imaging is largely limited to providing structural information; simulation is severely restricted by a lack of validation; and inverse modelling is critically hampered by a lack of spatially resolved inputs. The project's multidisciplinary team is uniquely positioned to explore these problems through the hybridisation of world-leading functional lung imaging technology with state-of-the-art modelling. This project aims to provide, perhaps for the first time, the capacity to see details with the resolution of imaging, richness of modelling and reliability of the finest measurements.

ARC Discovery Project DP120100153

"Methodologies for resolving high Rayleigh number transitions in convection and elucidating instabilities in polar vortices" - $320,000 over 2012-2014

Investigators: Sheard, G.J.

Summary: This project will develop new methods for modeling complex rotating convection flows such as polar vortices found in the Antarctic atmosphere. This work has the potential to provide insight into important physical processes impacting Australian and global weather patterns, which is crucial for understanding the evolution of our climate.

ARC Discovery Project DP0665736

"Supersonic flow past micro-scale particles: Industrial applications" - $355,000 over 2006-2009

Investigators: Sheard, G.J., Carberry, J. & Ryan, K.

Summary: Droplet based materials processing has developed significantly over the last decade, with applications in a wide range of industries where high-strength, light-weight materials are critical. Our research will allow for continued progress of this method, by developing accurate models to predict the cooling rate throughout the process and hence the physical properties of the finished product. Development of this knowledge will allow for higher precision products to be produced and allow for new techniques to be developed. This information will allow for material processing in Australia to be maintained at world class levels, and for Australian industry to continue to lead the way in the production of technologically advanced materials.

ARC Discovery Project DP0555897

"Fluid dynamics of circulation: Focus on the kidney" - $338,000 over 2005-2007

Investigators: Hourigan, K., Anderson, W.P., Evans, R.G., Thompson, M.C., Denton, K.M., Kawahashi, M. & Sheard, G.J.

Summary: In Australia, about 30% of adults have hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease, accounting for about 40% of all deaths. Problems in renal circulation are likely factors leading to hypertension. A detailed understanding of the renal circulation, of whose hydraulic characteristics we have limited knowledge, is required before we can cure or prevent hypertension. We will determine how the size, structure and geometry of the blood vessels influence the function of the kidney. This will lead to predictive models to aid the design and interpretation of physiological studies and the combat of hypertension. It will also help in the ongoing development of bioartificial kidneys to replace present dialysis systems.