Prof Indresan Govender

Qualifications
BSc(UDW), HDE (UNISA), Physics-Hons(UCT), PhD (UCT)

Background
Indresan Govender graduated with a PhD from the University of Cape Town where he worked for the last 15 years. He is presently Professor of Particle Technology and Mineral Processing in Chemical Engineering at UKZN and honorary Professor in the Centre for Minerals Research. Indresan’s research focusses on the modelling of complex flows with a strong emphasis on granular systems. The expedience of continuum modelling frameworks are favoured in describing the rheological character of the flow, with nuclear imaging techniques like Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) and Bi-planar X-ray Imaging that uniquely measure, in-situ, the trajectory of individual representative particles within realistic flow systems found in industry (mining, pharmaceuticals, food), medicine (blood and air flow) and nature (avalanches, landslides, etc). Computational modelling via the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) also captures the microscale information that are typically difficult to measure but crucial to better understanding the stress/strain relations governing the flow system. Our nuclear imaging measurements via PEPT and X-rays provide unique data for unravelling the scaling laws that underpin the constitutive behaviour of the flow. We use the experimentally derived scaling laws in combination with the microscale simulation data to fully realise the underlying rheological character of the flow. The resulting insights then allow us to make meaningful predictions for complex industrial, natural and biological systems.

Employment

Research Interests

Computational modelling (DEM, CFD, FEM, SPH); nuclear imaging (PEPT, X-rays); Granular flow modelling