Research
Physics of Scalar Transport, Mixing and Reactions
We are interested in how structured flows influence the stirring and mixing of ecologically relevant entities.Ìý This line of research has led to new insights on the mechanisms by which turbulence enhances mixing and reactions, and how organisms have adapted to opportunities and constraints imposed by turbulent physics.
Pratt, K.R., True, A. and J.P. Crimaldi. Turbulent Clustering of Initially Well-mixed Buoyant Particles on a Free-surface by Lagrangian Coherent Structures.ÌýPhysics of FluidsÌý29, no. 7, 2017.ÌýÌý
Soltys, M A, and J.P. Crimaldi. Joint Probabilities and Mixing of Isolated Scalars Emitted From Parallel Jets.ÌýJournal of Fluid MechanicsÌý769, 130-153, 2015.ÌýÌý
Pratt, K.R., Meiss, J.D. and J.P. Crimaldi.Ìý Reaction Enhancement of Initially Distant Scalars by Lagrangian Coherent Structures.ÌýÌýPhysics of FluidsÌý27, no. 3, 035106, 2015.ÌýÌý
Crimaldi, J.P. and T.R. Kawakami.Ìý Reaction of initially distant scalars in a cylinder wake.ÌýPhysics of FluidsÌý25, 053604, 1-16, 2013.ÌýÌý
Odor Plumes and Animal Navigation
Aquatic and terrestrial animals are adept at using odor plumes as navigational cues in their search for food and mates, and to avoid predators.ÌýÌý We have developed laser-based laboratory techniques for creating and quantifying odor plumes in the laboratory.Ìý The resulting datasets serve as virtual odor landscapes for studying and testing bio-inspired odor search algorithms.
Connor, E.G., McHugh, M.K. and J.P. Crimaldi. Quantification of airborne odor plumes using planar laser-induced fluorescence.ÌýÌýExperiments in Fluids,ÌýIn Review.ÌýÌý
Hydrodynamics of Ecological Flows
We use experimental and numerical approaches to study hydrodynamic flow phenomena associated with a range of ecological processes.
True, A.C. and J.P. Crimaldi. Hydrodynamics of Viscous Inhalant Flows.ÌýPhysical Review EÌý95, no. 5, 2017.ÌýÌý
Crimaldi, J.P. and T.R. Kawakami.Ìý Reaction enhancement in an unsteady obstacle wake: Implications for broadcast spawning and other mixing-limited processes in marine environments.ÌýÌýJournal of Marine SystemsÌý114,130-137, 2015.ÌýÌý
Bell, A.F. and J.P. Crimaldi.Ìý Effect of steady and unsteady shear on chemoattractant plume formation around an egg: implications for rates of fertilization for motile sperm.ÌýÌýJournal of Marine SystemsÌý148, 236-248, 2015.ÌýÌý
Crimaldi, J.P. and R.A. Zimmer.Ìý The physics of broadcast spawning in benthic invertebrates.ÌýAnnual Review of Marine ScienceÌý6, 141-165, 2014. Ìý
Engineered Mixing in Porous Media
As part of a collaborative study on engineered approaches to enhance the efficacy of contaminated groundwater remediation, we have developed laser-based laboratory techniques for studying engineered injections and extractions in ground water plumes.