Events Calendar

AME Seminar

Speaker: Oliver Schmidt, University of California at San Diego

Talk Title: Modal Decomposition for the Discovery of Nonlinear Flow Physics

Abstract: Modal decomposition techniques are at the forefront of uncovering nonlinear flow physics from large experimental and numerical datasets, particularly in complex engineering and natural flows. Among the most prominent of these techniques are Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) and Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD), which extract the energetically and dynamically most relevant flow features, respectively. While both methods yield accurate low-dimensional representations of flow dynamics, neither provides direct, quantitative insight into the nonlinear interactions that govern these dynamics. The common approach remains to rely on power or cross-spectral peaks as heuristic indicators of nonlinear interactions.
In this talk, I will present a novel orthogonal triadic decomposition technique that systematically identifies and quantifies nonlinear flow phenomena. By extracting flow structures linked to triadic nonlinear interactions—the core mechanism of energy transfer in turbulence—this method offers a powerful new tool for physical discovery. I will demonstrate its application in two examples: cylinder flow, a canonical flow example, and large-eddy simulation data of a plasma-actuated twin rectangular jet, a complex engineering flow. These cases illustrate how this decomposition technique not only improves our understanding of nonlinear interactions but also lays the groundwork for future reduced-order models of complex flows.

Biography: Oliver Schmidt is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering and a recipient of the NSF CAREER award. Prior to joining UC San Diego, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Stuttgart in 2014. His research centers on physics-based modeling and computational fluid dynamics, with applications spanning aerospace sciences, high-energy laser systems, and physical oceanography. His work is supported by the AFOSR, ONR, DOE, and NSF.

Host: AME Department

More Info: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/

Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96060458816?pwd=8LmoG2q6vBCQubqqWpcizd2F1bxqsH.1

Location: Seaver Science Library (SSL) - 202

WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/j/96060458816?pwd=8LmoG2q6vBCQubqqWpcizd2F1bxqsH.1

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Tessa Yao

Event Link: https://ame.usc.edu/seminars/