Inhalation project · Indoor air quality · Fluid–particle dynamics
The inhalation project is a multi-disciplinary research project investigating health risk and injury caused by inhalation exposure. We combine computational modelling with experimental measurements to explore and better understand air-and-particle dynamics. Our outcomes translate the fundamental research to resolve practical particle inhalation issues.
Applications of CFD centred on how we breathe air, aerosols, and fluids — from the nasal cavity to the room around us.
Investigating respiratory function from the environment into the upper respiratory airway — nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, and tracheobronchial airway — including inhaled particles, mucus behaviour, and physiological functions such as olfaction and clearance.
Indoor air and particle flow behaviour for energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and inhalation exposure to contaminants — including buoyancy from temperature differences and re-dispersion driven by occupant movement.
Laser imaging techniques — PIV, LDA, PDPA — combined with high-speed filming to image fluid–particle systems: spray atomisation, droplet sizing, and a new visualisation technique for wake flows from moving objects, feeding directly into CFD analysis.
Workshop
An aerodynamics day with Grade 6 students from Coolaroo South and Willmott Park Primary Schools, discussing their 3D-printed car designs.
Presentations
Videos from the team at the ASOHNS Annual Scientific Meeting: virtual nasal surgery, CFD and chronic rhinosinusitis, mucosal temperature and patency, and sinonasal irrigation.
Associate Professor.
Senior Lecturer.
Research Fellow in biomedical engineering: blood and airway flows.
Multi-phase flow applications in the airways.
Liquids, droplets, and powders as carriers for nasal drug delivery.
New mouthpiece design for drug delivery enhancement.
Spray particle impingement and mucosal clearance rates in drug delivery.
CFD and experimental investigations of stenotic flows.
Experimental and computational analysis of particle deposition and erosion in pipe bends.
Honours project investigating clean air rooms for blow-fill-seal application.
Our ten most recent papers. The complete bibliography — books, journal papers, and conference proceedings back to 2006 — is on the full publications page.
Hunter, W., Inthavong, K., Vahaji, S., Stevanović, S., Morton, D.A.V. Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery, 19412711261477975
Budiono, G.R., Or, K., Inthavong, K., Singh, N. Australian Journal of Otolaryngology, 9, 32
Liu, X., Bradshaw, K., Warfield-McAlpine, P., Singh, N., Inthavong, K. Journal of Biomechanics, 206, 113483
Eguzkitza, B., Arguello, R., Arnedo, C., Inthavong, K., Calmet, H., Houzeaux, G. Journal of Aerosol Science, 198, 106879
Warfield-McAlpine, P., Emmerling, J., Fletcher, D.F., Inthavong, K. Computers in Biology and Medicine, 213, 111805
Khamooshi, M., Warfield-McAlpine, P., Fletcher, D.F., Wickramarachchi, A., Dhanani, J., Gregory, S.D., Inthavong, K. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 344, 104604
Das, R.K., Kumar, P., Koirala, R., Inthavong, K., Date, A. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 228, 111037
Lai, W.H., Das, R.K., Kumar, P., Lappas, P., Kajtaz, M., Inthavong, K., Date, A. Energies, 19 (9), 2084
Almirall, B.V., Wong, C.Y.J., Ang, H.Q., Traini, D., Singh, N.P., Inthavong, K. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 23 (7), 1345-1354
Cai, X., Chong, D., Ong, H.X., Inthavong, K., Lee, A., Dong, J., Kourmatzis, A., Cheng, S. Pharmaceutical Research, 43 (7), 2407-2421
New paper: a dual heat-and-mass-transfer wall model for the nasal mucosal surface, published in IJNMBE.
Patrick accepted to present at ASOHNS 2021; publications from Sara, Hana, Praween & Kendra; new collaborators from KMITL, Thailand; James completes his masters.
James has submitted his thesis — a Masters by Research on experimental nasal spray and airflow investigation, with a generous amount of CFD benchmark data.
Well done Kendra Shrestha on your first publication with the group — “Primary break-up and atomization characteristics of a nasal spray”, PLOS ONE.
Recent outcomes, and a sneeze simulation finished while working from home.
RMIT HDR scholarships are available, aligned with pre-defined projects — including nasal surgical manoeuvres, next-generation drug delivery devices, and indoor built environment exposure.
cfdResearch — where you get a PhD and do some running.
Our first group race, 28 August 2022.
Our second group race, 21 May 2023. Well done Brenda, Joey, and Kiao on the run. Great work everyone!
Our 3rd group race. Well done Brenda, and Kiao (2:48 PB) on the run.
Our 4th group race. Well done Kiao (2:51) on the run.
RMIT scholarships are available for HDR projects in nasal drug delivery, indoor air quality, and cardiovascular flow — include a short outline of your background.
How to apply · Project guides · 2020 Round 1 overview (PDF) · Current project opportunities
