Teaching
I teach turbulence, mathematical and numerical physics, and renewable energy at the University of Twente, and contribute to doctoral courses at the J.M. Burgerscentrum (JMBC).
Turbulence
The course introduces turbulence as a complex system, connecting its governing equations, flow structures, statistical theory and numerical description.
- Equations and transition: Navier–Stokes and Boussinesq equations, potential flows, hydrodynamic instabilities, routes to chaos and transition to turbulence.
- Statistical theory: statistical descriptions, mean-flow equations, fully developed turbulence, Kolmogorov’s theory and intermittency.
- Canonical flows: free shear flows, boundary layers and Rayleigh–Bénard convection.
- Computation: numerical flow simulations.
Textbook: S.B. Pope, Turbulent Flows, Cambridge University Press (2000).
Mathematical and Numerical Physics
The course combines analytical and numerical methods for physical problems, covering variational calculus, differential equations, eigenvalues and nonlinear dynamics.
- Variational methods: functionals, the Euler–Lagrange equation, least action and phase separation.
- Numerical methods: finite differences for partial differential equations, discretisation error, stability and convergence.
- Mathematical models: eigenvalue calculations, boundary-value problems, Green’s functions and nonlinear equations.
- Dynamics and chaos: fixed points, bifurcations, numerical time integration and Lyapunov exponents.
Reading: course handouts and selected literature. Assignments combine analytical derivations, numerical implementation and a short research project.
Physics of Solar and Wind Energy
Physical principles of wind and solar power, from turbines and solar cells to renewable-energy integration, within the Sustainability and Climate Physics minor.
- Wind energy: turbine concepts, momentum theory, the Betz limit, wind-farm layout and economics.
- Solar energy: cell operation, semiconductor junctions, current–voltage behaviour, light management and efficiency limits.
- Energy systems: renewable technologies and the challenges of integrating wind and solar power into the grid.
- Sustainable materials: resource availability, criticality, toxicity and long-term stability.
Practicals: wind-farm optimisation and solar-cell characterisation, with presentations on both assignments.
Interested in a BSc or MSc research project? Explore example projects and enquiry details.
JMBC doctoral teaching
The J.M. Burgerscentrum is the Dutch national research school for fluid mechanics. Its intensive doctoral courses broaden and deepen research-level knowledge through lectures, exercises and demonstrations. I contribute invited lectures to the courses below.
JMBC course programme and registration
Wake Flows
The course connects the physics of wake formation with applications across aerospace, marine, biological and wind-energy flows.
- Wake formation: flow separation, viscosity and instability as the origins of wake development.
- Physical mechanisms: momentum deficits, drag, vorticity and unsteady flow structures.
- Scaling: Reynolds-number dependence, with Mach- and Froude-number effects where relevant.
- Applications: common features and differences between wakes in aerodynamics, marine propulsion, biological flows and wind engineering.
Turbulence
A doctoral introduction to turbulence, combining classical theory, physical interpretation, modelling and experimental and numerical methods.
- Foundations: physical behaviour, statistical descriptions and classical turbulence theory.
- Numerical simulation: direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large-eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent flows.
- Experiments: laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) and particle image velocimetry (PIV).
- Modelling and practice: turbulence-model comparisons, CFD demonstrations, worked assignments and invited research talks.
Earlier teaching and invited lectures
- 2025: Speaker at CFD parschool; see the school’s speaker profile.
- November 2020: Invited lecturer on fluid physics modelling challenges of wind plants at the zEPHYR ITN training.
- June 2017: Invited lecturer at the ICTS summer school on Buoyancy-driven flows, Bengaluru, India. The programme lists lectures on numerical simulation and joint computational tutorials.
- 2016–2017: Lecturer for Module 5 (Bachelor) at the University of Twente.
- 2013–2015: Guest lecturer for the turbulence course at Johns Hopkins University, United States.