Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation software is at the core of present-day engineering practice as well as academic research in virtually any industry related field ranging from aerospace to automotive, nuclear, conventional and renewable electricity generation, marine propulsion, thermal management, etc, and the corresponding industrial sector of proprietary, as well as open-source, software developers is booming.Current CFD methodologies are mostly based on the finite-volume approach utilising arbitrary control volumes on an unstructured mesh to fit complex geometries encountered in engineering applications. The equations to be solved for conservation of mass and momentum are strongly coupled via the inter-dependence between fluid velocities and pressure. A central issue involved in the development of successful solution algorithms is how to handle this coupling. There exist several schemes for doing this and the most widely used one, although it is incorporated in the current standard commercial software as well as the widely used open-source codes (such as OpenFOAM), has many drawbacks that impair both the accuracy of the solution as well as the speed of its execution. The project is therefore aimed at exploring alternative techniques for handling the equation coupling to develop a more reliable and robust methodology, and establishing metrics to assess its accuracy and speed of execution (compared to standard approaches).The project will deliver a proof of concept to translate the improved pressure-velocity coupling approach into computational codes used in real-world applications, such as STAR-CCM+ and OpenFOAM.EligibilityApplicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.Funding:At Manchester we offer a range of scholarships, studentships and awards at university, faculty and department level, to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers.For more information, visit our funding page or search our funding database for specific scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for. Please note that we are now accepting nominations for the Dean's Doctoral Scholarship for September 2024.This project is also eligible for consideration for the Osborne Reynolds top-up Scholarship which provides an additional £1500 per year top-up to other funding sources for outstanding candidates. Successful applicants will be automatically considered for this top-up.Before you applyWe strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor for this project before you apply.How to applyTo be considered for this project you’ll need to complete a formal application through our online application portal.When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, how you’re planning on funding your research, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing [email protected], diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact.We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).