Joel Daou Senior lecturer. Qualifications: MSc, PhD (Marseilles). University of Manchester, Alan Turing Building Oxford Road , Manchester M13 9PL, UK Room 2.129 Office hour for Advisees: Fridays 11-12

Teaching (Recent):

• Course MAT35072: Mathematical Modelling, Transport Phenomena and Reactive Flow (3rd year Cours)
• Course MATH10232: Calculus and Applications B (2011-2012)
• Course MATH60682/MATHT45142: Introduction to Combustion Theory (MSc + 4th year course (2005-2011)
• Course MATH10131: Calculus and Vectors. (2010-2011)
• Mathematics 2R1/MATH29671 (2nd Year course, Series, Differential Equations, Laplace Transforms, functions of several variables.) (2008-2009)

• Current Supervision classes and Tutorials: MATH10121 (Calculus).
• Course 423/MT542: Numerical Solution of Differential Equations (2002-2007, MSC +4th year Course)
• Hamiltonian dynamical systems (U213) (2004-2006, 2nd year Course)
• Course 2Q2:  Further  Mathematics for civil engineers (1999-2004, 2nd Year course) 

Research:

• Fields of competence:   Combustion, fluid mechanics, numerical and asymptotic methods, heat and mass transfer.
• Major Research topics:  Flame propagation in mixing layers (e.g. triple flames). Ignition and extinction fronts in premixed combustion. Turbulent combustion. Stability of flames. Droplet combustion at high pressure (rocket engines, diesel engines). Convective mixing, ignition and combustion of fuel pockets. Ignition and development of premixed flames under gravity.
• Investigation approach:  numerical and  perturbation methods.
• Publications: see my list of publications 

Selected Publications (Downloadable):

• Daou, J. Strained premixed flames: effect of heat-loss, preferential diffusion, and the reversibility of the chemical reaction. Combustion Theory and Modelling 15:437-454 (2011).
• Daou, J. and Al-Malki, F. Triple-flame propagation in a parallel flow: an analytical study. Combustion Theory and Modelling 14:177-202 (2010).
• Daou, J. Asymptotic analysis of flame propagation in weakly-strained mixing layers under a reversible chemical reaction. Combustion Theory
  and Modelling, 13:189-213 (2009).
• Daou, J., Al-Malki, F. and Ronney, P. Generalized Flames Balls. Combustion Theory and Modelling 13:269-294 (2009).
• Daou, J. Premixed flames with a reversible reaction: propagation and stability. Combustion Theory and Modelling, 12:349-365 (2008).
• Daou, J. and Sparks, P. Flame propagation in a small scale parallel flow. Combustion Theory and Modelling, 11:697-714 (2007).
• Daou, R., Daou, J., and Dold, J. Effect of heat loss on flame edges in a non-premixed counterflow within a thermo-diffusive model. Combustion
  Theory and Modelling, 8:683-699 (2004).
• Daou, R., Daou, J., and Dold, J. Effect of heat loss on flame edges in a premixed counterflow. Combustion Theory and Modelling 7:221-242
  (2003).
• Daou, J., Dold, J., and Matalon, M. The thick flame asymptotic limit and Damkohler’s hypothesis. Combustion Theory and Modelling 6:141-
  153 (2002).
• Daou, J. and Matalon, M. Influence of conductive heat-losses on the propagation of premixed flames in channels. Combustion and Flame
  128:321-339 (2002).
• Daou, J. and Matalon M. Flame propagation in Poiseuille flow under adiabatic conditions. Combustion and Flame 124:337-349 (2001).
• Daou, J. , Matalon M. and Linan, A. Premixed edge flames under transverse enthalpy gradients. Combustion and Flame 121:107-121 (2000).
• Daou, J. and Linan, A. Ignition and extinction fronts in counterflowing premixed reactive gases. Combustion and Flame 118:479-488 (1999).
• Daou, J. and Linan, A. The role of unequal diffusivities in ignition and extinction fronts in strained mixing layers. Combustion Theory and Modelling
  2:449-477 (1998).
• Daou, J. Ignition and combustion of fuel pockets moving in an oxidizing atmosphere. Combustion and Flame 115:383-394 (1998).
• Daou, J. and Rogg, B. Convective burning of gaseous fuel pockets and supercritical droplets. Combustion and Flame 115:145-157 (1998).
• Daou, J. and Rogg, B. Influence of gravity on the propagation of initially spherical flames. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 26:1275-1281
  (1996).
• Daou, J., Haldenwang, P. and Nicoli, C. Supercritical burning of liquid oxygen (LOX) droplet with detailed chemistry. Combustion and Flame,
  101:153-169, (1995).

Research Projects (for prospective PhD and M.Sc. students, and as 4th year projects)

Several projects are available related to the mathematical theory of flame propagation, a fascinating multi-disciplinary area of applied mathematics involving ordinary and partial differential equations. The approach will typically adopt a combination of analytical techniques (asymptotic methods) and/or numerical techniques (solution of ODEs or PDEs, mostly parabolic and elliptic). The multi-disciplinary experience in combustion involved will be useful for tackling research problems in other fields of application, and wil constitute a valuable asset for jobs in industry (such as the automobile or the aerospace industry). Depending on the preference of the candidate, each of the projects can be tailored in its scope and the methodology of study.

Sample of suggested projects:

• Time-dependent ignition in a prescribed flow field (such as a Poiseuille flow), and in mixing-layers. The main aim is to determine the critical energy of the initial hot kernel (or spark) to ignite a flowing reactive mixture.
• Propagating Flames and their Stability: this project involves a survey of the analytical and/or numerical approaches of flames modelled by reaction-diffusion-convection equations.
• Flame propagation in a multi-scale flow based on an Hamilton-Jacobi type equation (describing the normal propagation of the flame) and comparison with results based on the basic conservation equations.
• Flame initiation and propagation in spatially non-uniform mixtures, a problem of considerable interest in combustion, asymptotics and/or numerics. The Combustion basics needed for the projects will be provided and explained to the candidate.
• Laminar aspects of turbulent combustion. The idea is to ask if the fundamental questions of turbulent combustion can be answered for simple laminar flows. Since the answer is often no, we shall formulate and study problems to answer these questions in simpler laminar-flow situations.
• Generalised Flame Balls: Flame balls are balls of burnt gas in a reactive mixture, which constitute stationary solutions to non-linear Poisson's equations.These were first described by the famous Russian physicist Zeldovich (the father of Combustion Theory) about 60 years ago. The fact that these solutions are typically unstable provides a poweful fundamental criterion for successful ignition, i.e. determines the minimum energy (of the spark) required to generate propagating flames. Several projects are available to extend the study of these fascinating flames (mainly their existence and stability) to take into account realistic effects such as the presence of flow-field, non-uniformity of the reactive mixture, proximity of walls, etc. The theoretical background for these projects will be presented to the candidate (and is largey covered in my Introduction to Combustion course, Math45142/Math60682). Again, the problems can be tackled by numerical and analytical methods, or by a combination thereof, depending on the candidate's preference and the problem chosen.

For a printable list of these projects, please click here.

Please contact me for any related query.