Phone 0114 225 3068
Email T.J.Spencer@shu.ac.uk
M.Sci.(Hons), Ph.D, A.M.Inst.P.
Research interests
Tim joined MERI as a researcher to work in the Materials and Fluid Flow Modelling Group on a number of research and consulting based projects. Previously he had spent a year working with high power lasers at the Central Laser Facility in Oxford and had obtained a PhD (2005) and MSci (2002) in engineering physics from Sheffield Hallam University where he also won the Jeremy Laskowski award and Mössbauer award.
His research involves the application of theory and simulation techniques for the predictive modelling of real life systems that involve fluids. In particular the research focuses on liquid crystals, liquid crystal devices, multistable liquid crystal displays, hydrodynamic flows, multi-component flows, colloidal rheology, micro-fluidics, porous media, biological flows and carrier fluids.
These systems/applications can often be represented well by coupled partial differential equations acting on varying length and time scales. To solve these equations he has expertise in the lattice Boltzmann method, in finite differencing methods, integrating methods and high performance computing methods.
Research collaborations
- Developing new lattice Boltzmann methods for Q tensor nemato-dynamics. (Research and consultancy for Seiko Epson Corporation)
- Modelling and experimental predictions for the Zenithal bistable display. (Research and consultancy ZBD Displays Ltd.)
- Liquid crystal alignment on patterned surfaces. (Research)
- Simulations of a novel micro fluidic device for the high speed formation of monodisperse drops. (Consultancy Kodak)
- Multi component lattice Boltzmann methods. (Research)
- Microfluidic devices and novel geometries. (Research)
- Efficient numerical methods for the explicit simulation of particle laden flows with comparison to non-Newtonian theory. (Research)
- Hemodynamic flows near arteriole walls (Research with CNR Rome)
- Predicting the dynamic cell seeding distribution in scaffolds and bioreactor flows applied to bone tissue engineering. (Research in collaboration with University of Manchester)
Recent publications
All of Tim's papers can be accessed at SHURA.
- Halliday, T.J.Sencer, C.M.Care, “Validation of multicomponent lattice Boltzmann equation simulations using theoretical calculations of immiscible drop shape” Phys. Rev. E 79, 016706, 2009. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.79.016706
- T.J.Spencer, J.C.Jones, R.M.Amos, C.M.Care, “A Zenithal bistable device: Comparison of modelling and experiment”, Phys. Rev. E. 82, 021702 (2010). doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.82.021702
- A.P.Hollis, T.J.Spencer, I.Halliday, C.M.Care, “Dynamic wetting boundary condition for continuum hydrodynamics with muli-component lattice Boltzmann equation simulation method”, IMA J Appl. Maths. 76(4) (2011). doi:10.1093/imamat/hxr008
- Halliday, M. Atherton, C.M.Care, M.W.Collins, D.Evans, P.C.Evans, D.R.Hose, A.W.Khir, C.S.Konig, R.Krams, P.V.Lawford, S.V.Lishchuk, G.Pontrelli, V. Ridger, T.J.Spencer, Y.Ventikos, D.C.Walker, P.N.Watton, “Multi-scale interaction of particulate flow and artery wall”, Med. Eng. Phys. 2011. doi:10.1016/j.medengphy.2010.09.007
- T.J.Spencer, I.Halliday, C.M.Care, “A local lattice Boltzmann method for multi-component immiscible fluids and high density suspensions of deformable particles”, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 369, 2255-2263 (2011). doi:10.1098/rsta.2011.0029
- T.J.Spencer, I.Halliday, C.M.Care, “Lattice Boltzmann equation method for multiple immiscible continuum fluids.” Phys Rev. E, 82, 066701, 2010. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.82.066701
- G. Pontrelli, C.S. Koenig, I. Halliday, T.J. Spencer, M.W. Collins, Q. Long, S. Succi, “Modelling wall shear stress in small arteries using lattice Boltzmann method: influence the of endothelial wall profile”, Med. Eng. Phys. 2011. doi:10.1016/j.medengphy.2011.03.009