R. P. Chhabra Professor J. N. Gupta and Smt. Murti Devi Gupta Chair B.E. University of Roorkee 1974 M.E. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 1976 Ph.D. Monash University 1980 Phone: 91-512-2597393, 2597607   email: chhabra[AT]iitk.ac.in

Research Interests

• Fluid mechanics of multiphase systems.
• Non-Newtonian fluid-particle mechanics.
• Transport properties of molten salts and metals.

Brief Overview

In recent years, our main focus has been to elucidate the role of non-Newtonian rheology on flow field in model configurations including the flow over a single cylinder of circular, elliptic and square cross-sections and for two cylinders in a tandem arrangement, over a solid or a fluid sphere, etc. In particular, extensive results have been obtained on the detailed kinematics of the flow in terms of stream line patterns and isotherm contours to delineate the dead zones and local hot/cold regions. This information is crucial to achieve uniform product quality especially during the thermal processing of temperature sensitive materials (such as food-stuffs). Reliable values of the gross transport parameters including drag coefficient and Nusselt number encompassing wide ranges of the Reynolds number, Prandtl number and non-Newtonian flow parameters are also needed while performing process design calculations.

Awards

• Amar-Dye Chem award of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers for excellence in research and developments below the age of 35 years (1988).
• Herdillia Award of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers for excellence in basic research in Chemical Engineering (1996).
• Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Int.J.Eng.Fluid Mech., Gulf, Houston (1988-1992).
• Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering (Elected 2001).

Selected Publications

• A. Chandra and R. P. Chhabra, Influence of power-law index on transitional numbers for flow over a semi-circular cylinder , Applied Mathematical Modelling, 35, 5766-5785 (2011)

• A. Prhashanna, A. K. Sahu and R. P. Chhabra, Flow of power-law fluids past an equilateral triangular cylinder: Momentum and heat transfer characteristics, , Int. J. Thermal Sciences,50, 2027-2042 (2011).

• C. Sasmal and R. P. Chhabra, , Laminar natural convection from a heated square cylinder immersed in power-law liquids, , J. Non-Newt. Fluid Mech, 166, 811-830 (2011).

• A. Chandra and R. P. Chhabra, Momentum and heat transfer characteristics of a semi-circular cylinder immersed in power-law fluids in the steady flow regime, Int. J. Heat Mass transfer, 54,2734-2750 (2011).

• P. K. Rao, C. Sasmal, A. K. Sahu, R. P. Chhabra and V. Eswaran, Effect of Power-Law Fluid Behaviour on Momentum and Heat Transfer Characteristics of an Inclined Square Cylinder in Steady Flow Regime , Int. J. Heat Mass transfer,54, 2854 -2867 (2011).

• M. K. Rao, A. K. Sahu and R. P. Chhabra, Effect of confinement on power-law fluid flow past a circular cylinder, Polymer Engineering & Science, in press (2011).

• D. Song, R. K. Gupta and R. P. Chhabra, Drag on a sphere in Poiseuille flow of power-law fluids, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, in press (2011).

• A. Prhashanna and R. P. Chhabra, Laminar natural convection from a horizontal cylinder in power-law fluids, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 50, 2424-2440 (2011).

• S. K. Panda and R. P. Chhabra, Laminar forced convection heat transfer from a rotating cylinder to power-law fluids, Numerical Heat Transfer: Part A, 59,297-319 (2011).

• P. Koteswara Rao, A. K. Sahu and R. P. Chhabra, Momentum and heat transfer from a square cylinder in power-law fluids , Mass transfer from ensembles of fluid spheres to a power-law liquid at moderate Reynolds and Peclet numbers, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer,54, 390-403 (2011).

• A. Chandra and R. P. Chhabra, Flow over and forced convection heat transfer in Newtonian fluids from a semi-circular cylinder,  Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 54, 225-241 (2011).