Prabhakar Ranganathan leads the Complex Fluid Systems research group in the Dept. of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering.

He is interested in understanding through modeling, simulations and analysis how micro-scale interactions determine the complex and emergent macroscale behaviour of complex fluid systems.

Systems of interest include active systems consisting of self-propelled particles, as exemplified by cilia and flagella driven collectively by protein motors, and suspensions, swarms and tissues of motile microbes, and also passive systems, such as solutions of flexible polymers.

The group also works on analytical tools and techniques for designing experiments to test theoretical models and for developing innovative applications of complex fluid systems. 

Modeling and simulations of solutions of active polymers

Modeling and simulations of suspensions of self-propelled particles

Modeling and simulations of flagellar propulsion

Modeling and simulations of mechanical stigmergy

Particle-based mesoscale simulations of complex fluids

Fluid Mechanics II (MEC3451): 2012 - present

Research Practices (MEC6410): 2016 - present

Thermofluids and Power Systems (TRC2200): 2008 - 2014

Computers in Fluids and Energy (MEC4447): 2008 - present

Computational Fluid Mechanics (MAE5406): 2008 - 2011

Academic appointments

• Senior Lecturer,  Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University (2013 - current)
• Visiting Faculty, Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay (2015)
• Lecturer, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Monash University  (2007 -2013)
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University (2005-2007)

Academic Qualifications

• PhD (2005) - Chemical Engineering, Monash University
• MS (1998) - Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
• B. Tech. (1993) - Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras