Experimentalists, theoreticians and computer scientists from the University of Houston and the University of Texas at San Antonio have joined to study a unique physical system - burner stabilized premixed flames. The interdisciplinary research group develops tools to further the fundamental understanding of pattern-forming systems through visualization, animation, measurement and modeling.

Experiments

The Experiments: Premixed flames provide a unique experimental setting for studying the dynamics of pattern formation. The hotter regions appear as cells that are separated by the darker, cooler cusps and folds.

Modeling & Analysis: Cellular patterns in uniform, extended continua form via spontaneous symmetry-breaking. Consequently there are qualitative properties of the cellular state that transcend the physical system, thus leading to universal features.

Modeling

Visualization

Visualization of Combustion: These systems have hundreds of states ranging from highly ordered to intermittent and chaotic. Image processing, visualization and computer animations are used to analyze the resulting motions.

Visualization using K-L Decomposition: An important technique we are using to understand transitions is the decomposition of states into their empirical eigenmodes using K-L decomposition. We then animate the decomposition to obtain new insights into the motion.

K-L Decomposition