Award for Paper on Simulation of Flow Processes

With one of the highest possible awards in the field of applied mathematics the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) has honoured the authors of a paper on computer-supported simulation of flow processes that appeared last year in one of the society's five journals. Among the SIAM publications the Heidelberg paper was chosen as the one with outstanding research results of special overall significance. The basic work was conducted at the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR) of Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS) in cooperation with French researchers. SIAM recognises only one publication each year as part of the SIGEST programme. The computer-supported simulation of so-called periodic flow processes is central to understanding the transition from laminar to turbulent or chaotic flows. In this process, a uniform, well-organised movement of fluids or gases transforms into a flow with visible turbulence. The swirling in the transition phase can be seen by the naked eye, such as that observed at river bridge pylons.