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
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.
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).
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Christopher Leonardi is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Use of Differential InSAR for Monitoring Surface Deformation in the Surat Basin
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Phil Hayes
-
Doctor Philosophy
Quantifying and attributing surface movement in the Surat Basin, south-east Queensland
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
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 computational framework for the dynamic interaction of fluids and solids during resource extraction
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
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
Modelling and fabrication of optimal fiber-based filter for effective air-borne fine-particle capture
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
Computational Simulation of a high-efficiency refrigeration system for underground mines
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
Doctor Philosophy
Overcoming roadblocks in mammalian cell biomanufacturing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Justin Cooper-White
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development and Optimisation of 3D Reconstruction Algorithms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Controlling microenvironments to enable green fuels and scalable electrolysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Tom Rufford, Dr Travis Mitchell
-
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
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
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the transport of proppant and micro-proppant in fracture networks via direct numerical simulation of particle-laden flows
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati, Professor Ray Johnson
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Computational modelling of nanofluids under solar radiation in a CPV/T collector
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Development of a multiphase lattice Boltzmann model for high-density and viscosity ratio flows in unconventional gas wells
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mahshid Firouzi
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Direct Numerical Simulation of Coupled Fluid-Particle Flow in Hydraulic Fractures
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Numerical investigation of conjugate heat transfer and temperature-dependent viscosity in non-Brownian suspensions with application to hydraulic fracturing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Integrated Numerical Model for Examining the Performance of Magnetorheological Plastomer Dampers: Magnetorheological Plastomer Dampers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of preconditioning fracturing on fluid accessibility of chalcopyrite ores
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Italo Onederra
-
2023
Master Philosophy
ADVANCED MODELLING OF FLOOR DISRUPTION BLASTING TO IMPROVE LOW-WALL STABILITY IN COAL MINING
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Italo Onederra
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Performance simulation of Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fibre as a gas sensor for industry applications
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Mehmet Kizil, Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Thermo-hydrodynamic Characteristics of Ice Slurry in Helical Heat Exchangers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Development and Investigation of Integrated Reservoir-Wellbore Flow Model
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Zhongwei Chen, Associate Professor Saiied Aminossadati
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Detonation performance of novel hydrogen peroxide and nitrate-based hybrid explosives
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Italo Onederra
-
2017
Master Philosophy
Investigating the application of linear shaped charges in wall control practices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Italo Onederra
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Christopher Leonardi directly for media enquiries about:
- Complex fluid dynamics
- Computational modelling
- Oil and gas production
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