Transport Phenomena (TP)

The Transport Phenomena (TP) program supports fundamental research to understand, model, and control the transport of mass, momentum, energy, and species across multiple scales. Innovative TP research supports advances in artificial intelligence; manufacturing; biotechnology; microelectronics; energy generation, extraction, and utilization; nuclear energy; quantum science and engineering; and other national priorities. TP projects involve experiments, theory, and/or computational modeling. They aim to improve understanding and to create novel analytical techniques. While projects focus on fundamental principles, they also have a clear vision of how research outcomes will benefit applications in engineering. TP supports research on the dynamics of single- and multiphase systems. Special interests include flow separation, transition to turbulence, drag reduction, cavitation, instabilities, and reactive flows. The program encourages research on the connection between dynamics at the microscale and material and flow properties at the macroscale. Fluids of interest include liquids, gases, suspensions, emulsions, granular materials, active fluids, biological fluids, colloids, aerosols, bubbles and drops, and fluids with surfactants. TP supports research on physicochemical phenomena at the interfaces between fluids and between fluids and solids. These phenomena include adsorption and desorption of nanoparticles and surfactants; bulk and interfacial rheology; wetting and capillarity phenomena; electrokinetics; flow in porous media; and directed and self-assembly of particles. TP supports research on thermodynamics and thermal transport involving conduction, diffusion, convection, phase transition, and radiation. Research may be across scales, in complex structures and at interfaces, in microelectronic devices, and in biological systems. Projects involving phonon transport and quantum thermal phenomena are welcome. TP encourages proposals focused on combustion of gas, liquid and solid fuels. Combustion topics of interest include chemical kinetic modeling, turbulence-chemistry interactions, detonations, plasma assisted reacting flows, sustainable fuels, mechanisms for pollutant control, and in-situ diagnostic methods. The program also supports research on wildland fire behavior that aims to prevent wildfire spread, inhibit its growth, and/or predict and mitigate fires at the wildland-urban interface. Partnerships: To speed discovery and innovation, NSF partners with federal agencies, industry, international groups, and others. Current opportunities are at NSF ENG Partnerships.

TheTransport Phenomena(TP)programsupports fundamental research to understand, model, and control the transport of mass, momentum, energy, and species across multiple scales. InnovativeTP researchsupportsadvancesinartificial intelligence;manufacturing;biotechnology;microelectronics;energy generation, extraction, andutilization;nuclearenergy;quantum science and engineering;and othernational priorities.

TPprojectsinvolve experiments, theory, and/or computational modeling. They aimtoimproveunderstanding and tocreate novelanalytical techniques. Whileprojectsfocus on fundamental principles, they alsohavea clear visionof how research outcomes willbenefitapplicationsinengineering.

TPsupports researchon thedynamics of single- and multiphase systems.Specialinterests includeflow separation, transition to turbulence, drag reduction, cavitation, instabilities, and reactive flows.The program encouragesresearch on the connection between dynamicsat themicroscaleand material and flow propertiesat themacroscale. Fluids of interest include liquids, gases, suspensions,emulsions,granular materials, active fluids, biological fluids, colloids, aerosols, bubbles and drops, and fluids with surfactants.

TP supportsresearch on physicochemical phenomena attheinterfacesbetween fluids and between fluids and solids.These phenomena includeadsorption and desorption of nanoparticles and surfactants;bulk and interfacial rheology;wetting and capillarity phenomena;electrokinetics;flow in porous media;and directedand self-assembly of particles.

TPsupports research onthermodynamics andthermal transport involving conduction, diffusion, convection, phase transition, and radiation. Research may beacross scales, incomplex structures and at interfaces,in microelectronic devices,and in biological systems.Projectsinvolving phonon transportandquantum thermal phenomenaarewelcome.

TPencourages proposals focused on combustion of gas,liquidand solid fuels. Combustion topicsof interestincludechemical kinetic modeling, turbulence-chemistry interactions, detonations, plasmaassistedreacting flows, sustainable fuels,mechanismsforpollutant control, and in-situ diagnostic methods.The program also supports researchonwildland fire behaviorthat aims toprevent wildfire spread, inhibit its growth,and/orpredict andmitigatefires at the wildland-urban interface.

Partnerships:Tospeeddiscovery and innovation, NSF partners with federal agencies, industry, internationalgroups, and others. Current opportunities are atNSF ENG Partnerships.