Droplet Redistribution by Rolling Wheels

Key information

• Start date: October 2026 – January 2027
• Duration: 4 years
• Funding: industrial sponsor Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl, UK)
• Research area: Experimental fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, soft matter physics
• Supervision: Prof. Julien Landel (LMFA, UCBL), Prof. Jean-Philippe Matas (LMFA, UCBL), Prof. Stuart Dalziel (DAMTP, University of Cambridge)

Project description

This PhD project aims to uncover the fundamental mechanisms governing the transfer and redistribution of liquid droplets by rolling wheels on contaminated surfaces.

The project will investigate how droplets deform, spread, break up, and are redistributed through a combination of:

• capillary effects,
• inertial forces,
• centrifugal effects,
• interfacial instabilities.

The research will combine high-speed imaging experiments, experimental fluid mechanics, scaling analysis, and modelling to develop a physical understanding of droplet transfer processes.

The project will focus on several key phenomena:

• formation of thin liquid films under wheel contact,
• dynamics and breakup of capillary bridges,
• droplet ejection mechanisms,
• transport and redistribution of liquid by rotating surfaces.

A major outcome will be the development of new experimental approaches and physical models for multiphase contamination and decontamination processes.

The PhD student will join the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics (LMFA), an internationally recognised research laboratory in fluid mechanics located in Lyon. The project is part of an international collaboration involving:

• LMFA, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (France)
• Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), University of Cambridge (UK)
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl, UK)

The student will benefit from:

• an international research environment,
• research visits to Cambridge and interactions with Dstl researchers,
• a dedicated experimental budget to develop a new large-scale setup,

possible postdoctoral opportunities after completion of the PhD.

We are looking for candidates with:

• a strong academic background in fluid mechanics, physics, or a related field,
• excellent motivation for experimental research,
• interest in interdisciplinary problems,
• experience or strong interest in developing experimental setups,
• good command of English.

French is not required.

Contract and benefits

• permanent mission contract (CDI de mission),
• gross salary: €2,300/month,
• full-time position (35 hours/week),
• paid holidays,
• health insurance and pension/disability benefits,
• meal vouchers,
• benefits under the SYNTEC collective agreement.