Several projects involve applications of fluid mechanics.
In one, methods from the kinetic theory of gases are used to determine balance laws and constitutive relations for rapid flows of granular materials. Standard kinetic theory is modified to account for the inelasticity of the particles and the presence of boundaries. Other areas of study are the properties of strongly swirling flows and the loss of stability during the transition to turbulence in vortex breakdown. These areas have applications to aerodynamics, combustion in gas turbines, and tornadoes. Modern mathematical methods are used in conjunction with classical formulations of hydrodynamic stability, and experiments complement the analytical and numerical work.