During the past 40 years or so, our research has focussed on the elucidation of the interaction between the nonlinear flow properties of complex fluids and the rate of momentum, energy, and mass transfer from variously shaped bodies. Owing to their highly viscous nature and/or the dual nature (liquid and solid-like behavior), convection is intrinsically much slower in such fluids than that in their Newtonian counterparts like air and water. To enhance convection in complex fluids, mixed flows like pulsations, rotation, and buoyancy effects superimposed on a uniform flow have also been investigated. It is possible to improve the rate of convection by varying amounts under appropriate conditions depending upon fluid properties and the kinematic conditions. In addition to model configurations (like a sphere and a cylinder, for instance), the collection of multiple bluff bodies has also been studied to understand the hydrodynamic interactions between them to mimic flow phenomena in process equipment.
Similarly, my teaching interests relate to a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the broad areas of Transport Phenomena, Heat Transfer, Introduction to Chemical Engineering, Rheology and fluid mechanics of complex fluids, Multiphase Flows, Research Methods and Skills, etc.
Rheology of complex fluids, Non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, Multiphase flows.