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Dr Christopher Leonardi
Dr

Christopher Leonardi

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53761

Overview

Background

Biography:

Christopher Leonardi is an Associate Professor within the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow (Mid-Career). Dr Leonardi completed his PhD in computational mechanics at The University of Wales, Swansea, and his BE(Hons) in mechanical engineering at James Cook University, where he graduated with First Class Honours and a University Medal. Christopher’s PhD thesis resulted in the development of a computational approach to modelling complex fluid-particle suspensions and demonstrated its application in the context of underground mining. Prior to joining UQ, Christopher spent three years as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he worked on computational modelling of fluid-solid interaction problems in the context of oil and gas production.

Dr Leonardi has published more than 40 scientific papers in international journals, 30 conference papers (most in collaboration with industry partners), and one book chapter. He has graduated four PhD students as principal advisor and a further three as associate advisor. In addition to his academic pursuits, Christopher spent five years working as an engineering consultant with Rockfield Technologies Australia, where he applied advanced computational analysis tools to problems in bulk materials handling, structural design, and geomechanics.

Research:

Associate Professor Leonardi’s research is focused on the development and application of computational models of complex fluid-solid interactions, including suspension transport, porous media flow, multiphase flows, and poromechanics. The outputs of his work are applied to provide insight into the complex characteristics of subsurface fluid and solid mechanics in gas production from unconventional reservoirs (e.g. coal seams) and mineral extraction from challenging orebodies. Current and recent projects include studies on hydraulic fracturing and proppant transport in coal seam gas (CSG) reservoirs, surface movement within and adjacent to CSG tenements, counter-current two-phase flow in CSG wells, in situ recovery of minerals from low-permeability rocks, and bubble-particle interaction in hydrogen formation via methane pyrolysis.

Christopher and his group of postdoctoral researchers and postgraduate students possess expertise in a range of computational techniques, including the lattice Boltzmann, discrete element, finite element, and finite difference methods. His team collaborates closely with national computing facilities, such as Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, to development, implement, and apply these techniques to large-scale engineering problems.

Teaching and Learning:

Associate Professor Leonardi is Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering where he coordinates and lectures the course, MECH3780 Computational Mechanics, and lectures the first-year course, ENGG1001 Programming for Engineers. Christopher was awarded a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from UQ in 2015 and received Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning from the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) in 2019 and UQ in 2018.

Availability

Dr Christopher Leonardi is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Engineering, James Cook University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Swansea University

Works

Search Professor Christopher Leonardi’s works on UQ eSpace

111 works between 2005 and 2025

41 - 60 of 111 works

2021

Conference Publication

Analytical and numerical assessment of the influence of bulk coal strength on drilling operations in unconventional coal seam gas wells

Leonardi, C. R., Zhong, R., Mitchell, T. R., Chen, Z., Johnson, R. L., O'Hagan, D. and Flottmann, T. (2021). Analytical and numerical assessment of the influence of bulk coal strength on drilling operations in unconventional coal seam gas wells. 55th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Houston, TX USA, 20-23 June 2021. Alexandria, VA USA: American Rock Mechanics Association.

Analytical and numerical assessment of the influence of bulk coal strength on drilling operations in unconventional coal seam gas wells

2021

Conference Publication

A new approach for measuring the shear strength of cleated coal

Chen, Z., Mondal, S., Leonardi, C. R. and Flottmann, T. (2021). A new approach for measuring the shear strength of cleated coal. 55th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Houston, TX United States, 18-25 June 2021. Alexandria, VA United States: The American Rock Mechanics Association (ARMA).

A new approach for measuring the shear strength of cleated coal

2021

Journal Article

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of transient blood flow in arterial geometries using a regularised, viscoplastic and shear-thinning fluid

Hill, Bryce M. and Leonardi, Christopher R. (2021). Lattice Boltzmann simulation of transient blood flow in arterial geometries using a regularised, viscoplastic and shear-thinning fluid. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, 37 (8) e3456, 1-28. doi: 10.1002/cnm.3456

Lattice Boltzmann simulation of transient blood flow in arterial geometries using a regularised, viscoplastic and shear-thinning fluid

2021

Journal Article

Computational modeling of three-dimensional thermocapillary flow of recalcitrant bubbles using a coupled lattice Boltzmann-finite difference method

Mitchell, T. R., Majidi, M., Rahimian, M. H. and Leonardi, C. R. (2021). Computational modeling of three-dimensional thermocapillary flow of recalcitrant bubbles using a coupled lattice Boltzmann-finite difference method. Physics of Fluids, 33 (3) 032108, 1-23. doi: 10.1063/5.0038171

Computational modeling of three-dimensional thermocapillary flow of recalcitrant bubbles using a coupled lattice Boltzmann-finite difference method

2021

Journal Article

Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs

Wang, Duo, You, Zhenjiang, Johnson, Raymond L., Wu, Lei, Bedrikovetsky, Pavel, Aminossadati, Saiied M. and Leonardi, Christopher R. (2021). Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs. International Journal of Coal Geology, 242 103689, 103689. doi: 10.1016/j.coal.2021.103689

Numerical investigation of the effects of proppant embedment on fracture permeability and well production in Queensland coal seam gas reservoirs

2021

Conference Publication

Numerical evaluation of bulk geomechanical properties of fractured coal with changing net effective stress conditions

Mitchell, Travis R., Zhong, Ruizhi, Johnson, Ray and Leonardi, Christopher R. (2021). Numerical evaluation of bulk geomechanical properties of fractured coal with changing net effective stress conditions. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Virtual, 16-18 November 2021. Tulsa, OK, United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2021-208346

Numerical evaluation of bulk geomechanical properties of fractured coal with changing net effective stress conditions

2021

Conference Publication

Experimental Study of Coal Directional Sorption-Induced Strain Under Different Temperatures

Huang, Yixiao, Shi, Zhang, Flottmann, Thomas, Kuznetsov, Dan, Rudolph, Victor, Leonardi, Christopher and Chen, Zhongwei (2021). Experimental Study of Coal Directional Sorption-Induced Strain Under Different Temperatures. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Online, 16–18 November 2021. Tulsa, OK United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2021-208345

Experimental Study of Coal Directional Sorption-Induced Strain Under Different Temperatures

2021

Conference Publication

Wellbore stability analysis of horizontal drilling in Bowen and Surat coal seam gas wells

Zhong, Ruizhi, Leonardi, Christopher R., Mitchell, Travis R. and Johnson, Ray L. (2021). Wellbore stability analysis of horizontal drilling in Bowen and Surat coal seam gas wells. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Virtual, 16-18 November 2021. Tulsa, OK, United States: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. doi: 10.15530/ap-urtec-2021-208399

Wellbore stability analysis of horizontal drilling in Bowen and Surat coal seam gas wells

2020

Conference Publication

Analysis of Taylor bubble dynamics via high-fidelity numerical modelling

Mitchell, Travis and Leonardi, Christopher (2020). Analysis of Taylor bubble dynamics via high-fidelity numerical modelling. 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference AFMC2020, Brisbane, Australia, 7-10 December 2020. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/4181c21

Analysis of Taylor bubble dynamics via high-fidelity numerical modelling

2020

Conference Publication

Modelling of selective nanofluids under radiation in a CPV/T collector

Mojumder, Juwel Chandra, Aminossadati, Saiied and Leonardi, Christopher R. (2020). Modelling of selective nanofluids under radiation in a CPV/T collector. 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference AFMC2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-10 December 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/d43e050

Modelling of selective nanofluids under radiation in a CPV/T collector

2020

Conference Publication

Hydrodynamic and electrostatic jamming of microparticles in narrow channels

Di Vaira, Nathan J., Łaniewski-Wołłk, Łukasz, Johnson, Raymond L., Aminossadati, Saiied M. and Leonardi, Christopher R. (2020). Hydrodynamic and electrostatic jamming of microparticles in narrow channels. 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference AFMC2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-10 December 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/8d34dcf

Hydrodynamic and electrostatic jamming of microparticles in narrow channels

2020

Conference Publication

Lattice Boltzmann modelling of a regularised Kuang-Luo fluid in a carotid artery

Hill, Bryce, Mitchell, Travis and Leonardi, Christopher (2020). Lattice Boltzmann modelling of a regularised Kuang-Luo fluid in a carotid artery. 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference AFMC2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-10 December 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/cf18781

Lattice Boltzmann modelling of a regularised Kuang-Luo fluid in a carotid artery

2020

Journal Article

Gas sensing with hollow-core photonic crystal fibres: a comparative study of mode analysis and gas flow performance

Masum, Billah M., Aminossadati, Saiied M., Leonardi, Christopher R. and Kizil, Mehmet S. (2020). Gas sensing with hollow-core photonic crystal fibres: a comparative study of mode analysis and gas flow performance. Photonics and Nanostructures - Fundamentals and Applications, 41 100830, 100830. doi: 10.1016/j.photonics.2020.100830

Gas sensing with hollow-core photonic crystal fibres: a comparative study of mode analysis and gas flow performance

2020

Journal Article

On the rise characteristics of Taylor bubbles in annular piping

Mitchell, T. and Leonardi, C. (2020). On the rise characteristics of Taylor bubbles in annular piping. International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 130 103376, 103376. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2020.103376

On the rise characteristics of Taylor bubbles in annular piping

2020

Journal Article

Flow characterisation of monopropylene glycol ice slurry through a horizontal U-bend: a numerical approach

Kamyar, Amin, Aminossadati, Saiied M., Leonardi, Christopher R., Sasmito, Agus P. and Poncet, Sébastien (2020). Flow characterisation of monopropylene glycol ice slurry through a horizontal U-bend: a numerical approach. European Journal of Mechanics, B/Fluids, 82, 93-105. doi: 10.1016/j.euromechflu.2020.03.004

Flow characterisation of monopropylene glycol ice slurry through a horizontal U-bend: a numerical approach

2020

Conference Publication

Modelling micro-proppant transport in stress-sensitive naturally-fractured reservoirs

Di Vaira, Nathan, Leonardi, Christopher and Johnson, Raymond, Jr (2020). Modelling micro-proppant transport in stress-sensitive naturally-fractured reservoirs. SPE Europec (Society of Petroleum Engineers Europe Energy Conference), Virtual/Online, 1-3 December 2020. Richardson, Texas, United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/200600-MS

Modelling micro-proppant transport in stress-sensitive naturally-fractured reservoirs

2020

Journal Article

Development of closure relations for the motion of Taylor bubbles in vertical and inclined annular pipes using high-fidelity numerical modeling

Mitchell, T. and Leonardi, C. (2020). Development of closure relations for the motion of Taylor bubbles in vertical and inclined annular pipes using high-fidelity numerical modeling. Physics of Fluids, 32 (6) 063306, 063306. doi: 10.1063/5.0011456

Development of closure relations for the motion of Taylor bubbles in vertical and inclined annular pipes using high-fidelity numerical modeling

2020

Journal Article

Open-loop optimal control of a flapping wing using an adjoint Lattice Boltzmann method

Rutkowski, Mariusz, Gryglas, Wojciech, Szumbarski, Jacek, Leonardi, Christopher and Łaniewski-Wołłk, Łukasz (2020). Open-loop optimal control of a flapping wing using an adjoint Lattice Boltzmann method. Computers and Mathematics with Applications, 79 (12), 3547-3569. doi: 10.1016/j.camwa.2020.02.020

Open-loop optimal control of a flapping wing using an adjoint Lattice Boltzmann method

2020

Journal Article

Transport of particles suspended within a temperature-dependent viscosity fluid using coupled LBM–DEM

McCullough, J. W.S., Aminossadati, S. M. and Leonardi, C. R. (2020). Transport of particles suspended within a temperature-dependent viscosity fluid using coupled LBM–DEM. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 149 119159, 119159. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.119159

Transport of particles suspended within a temperature-dependent viscosity fluid using coupled LBM–DEM

2020

Conference Publication

Modelling Micro-Proppant Transport in Stress-Sensitive Naturally-Fractured Reservoirs

Di Vaira, Nathan, Leonardi, Christopher and Johnson Jr., Raymond (2020). Modelling Micro-Proppant Transport in Stress-Sensitive Naturally-Fractured Reservoirs. 82nd EAGE Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 8-11 December. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/200600-ms

Modelling Micro-Proppant Transport in Stress-Sensitive Naturally-Fractured Reservoirs

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Two-phase flow in fractured media: Quantifying the influence of salinity and mechanical properties
    Origin Energy Upstream Operator
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Modelling and monitoring of spatiotemporal variation of CSG-induced subsidence
    Santos Limited
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    Leading Practice in Hard Rock Preconditioning
    Technological Resources Pty Limited
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Impact of Dewatering and Reservoir Pressure on Coal Triaxial Strength
    Origin Energy Upstream Operator
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2024
    Impact of Depletion, Moisture Content and Fracture Network Distribution on Coal Strength
    Origin Energy Upstream Operator
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Aerodynamic characterisation of textured fabrics
    AusCycling Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    Pressure drop and proppant transport in vertical and horizontal fractures: The role of 100 mesh
    Origin Energy Upstream Operator
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Quantifying the Influence of Wire Screen Geometry on Voiding and Pinning in CCR Reactors
    Innovation Connections
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Massively parallel models of particle suspensions
    Pawsey Centre for Extreme Scale Readiness
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Horizontal Coal Seam Gas Well Drilling Optimisation: The Role of Coal Mechanical Properties
    Santos Limited
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Evaluating the bulk geomechanical properties of coals under changing net effective stress conditions
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Evaluating the bulk geomechanical properties of coals under changing net effective stress conditions (Stream 2)
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020
    Quantifying the influence of anisotropy on the mechanical properties of depleted coals
    Origin Energy Upstream Operator
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Rock mass preconditioning and fragmentation
    BHP Billiton Group Operations
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Sustainable enhancement of coal seam gas production in Queensland
    Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Multiphase and multicomponent modelling of bubble and suspension transport in CSG production
    Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Optical Equipment for Advanced Thermofluid Measurements
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Converting Tight Contingent CSG Resources: application of Graded Particle Injection in CSG Stimulation
    Australian Energy Resource Growth Centre Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Advanced Modelling in support of Completion and Stimulation (AMCS) Designs for Naturally Fractured Low Permeability Coals
    Arrow Energy Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    CSG reservoir stimulation using graded particle injection - Field design and application
    Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Multiphase and multiscale modelling of gas-liquid-particle transport in CSG reservoirs and wells
    Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    Surface movement and shallow processes
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Characterising the geomechanics of coal fragmentation in long-wall top coal caving
    University of Adelaide
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Gas transport in tight coal matrix
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Mathematical modelling of wellbore pressure profiles in CSG (pumped) wells
    QGC Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Characterising the behaviour of hydraulic fracturing fluids via computational modelling of dense, viscoplastic suspensions
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Impact of coal-fluid interaction on the effectiveness of fracturing during coal seam gas drainage
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Christopher Leonardi is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Modelling and fabrication of optimal fiber-based filter for effective air-borne fine-particle capture

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of a non-Newtonian phase-field lattice Boltzmann method model for complex flows in porous media

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of a non-Newtonian phase-field lattice Boltzmann method model for complex flows in porous media

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Use of Differential InSAR for Monitoring Surface Deformation in the Surat Basin

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Phil Hayes

  • Master Philosophy

    LBM-DEM modelling of multiphase, viscoelastic suspensions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantifying the mechanical properties of myocardium in cases of heart failure by preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantifying the mechanical properties of myocardium in cases of heart failure by preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of a computational framework for the dynamic interaction of fluids and solids during resource extraction

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Quantifying and attributing surface movement in the Surat Basin, south-east Queensland

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Phil Hayes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development and Optimisation of 3D Reconstruction Algorithms

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Controlling microenvironments to enable green fuels and scalable electrolysis

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tom Rufford, Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Computational Simulation of a high-efficiency refrigeration system for underground mines

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Improving Gas Recovery in Low-Permeability Coals by Deployment of Multi-stage Indirect Hydraulic Fractures

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen, Professor Ray Johnson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Overcoming roadblocks in mammalian cell biomanufacturing

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Justin Cooper-White

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Integrating hydrogen from methane pyrolysis into the iron and steel industry

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell, Associate Professor Simon Smart

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating fundamental bubble-particle interactions in three-phase systems

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Travis Mitchell

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of methodology to quantify intensive preconditioning in block and panel caving operations

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen, Associate Professor Italo Onederra

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of an Advanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Model to Investigate the Transmission of Airborne Contaminants Under Both Static and Dynamic Scenarios

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Christopher Leonardi directly for media enquiries about:

  • Complex fluid dynamics
  • Computational modelling
  • Oil and gas production

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