DrHenry Burridge

OVERVIEW
Henry's research focuses on fluid mechanics for the built environment, both through fundamental contributions to the understanding of transport and mixing of turbulent flows with buoyancy, and the practical application of this understanding to the human- and climate-focused management of buildings, and their ventilation, air and environment quality. Broad collaboration sits at the core of his philosophy for successfully delivering positive impact over this broad spectrum; with PhD supervision in new areas providing an important cornerstone (those potentially interested in carrying out PhD research under Henry's supervision should feel free to email him).

FLUID FLOWS WITH BUOYANCY
Flows of warmer & cooler air, and salty & fresh water, are all subject to the effects of buoyancy arising due to differences in density. The transport and mixing within these flows is important for our environments from the scales of rooms up to our atmosphere and oceans. Henry’s research centres on these flows and thier interaction with sources of heat (or salinity) using dynamically-similar laboratory models. These enable easy visualisation and accurate measurement of the flows to extend of understanding over a wide range of conditions relevant to buildings, and our environment and oceans. Henry collaborates with other experts, including experts in high-fidelity numerical simulations, to enable broader research impacts as to the mixing, transport, and energy implications of these flows in rooms, up to those in clouds.

FROM FLOWS IN BUILDINGS TO IMPACTS ON HUMANS AND ENERGY
Air flows in our buildings account for a significant portion of our global energy budget, and determine much of our indoor environment and our exposures within. Henry's research has contributed to the ventilation of buildings by low-energy means, highlighted the importance of thermal radiation within indoor environments and provided appropriately simplified models, provided new methods for modelling of our indoor environments, and evidenced new insights relating to indoor exposures.
To better deliver meaningful impact, Henry has developed expertise in the large-scale gathering of monitoring data from operational indoor spaces. This has proved most successful in schools which provide spaces which greatly benefit from improvements, and are of suitably predictable usage.

CURIOSITY DRIVEN RESEARCH
Henry maintains a breadth of other research activities which span the sustainable use of natural materials in construction (in particular, developing new research insights to inform the treatment of timber via improved understanding and modelling of the liquid transport in timber) through to research of scientific curiosity (e.g. research concerning the role of convection within the widely asserted ‘Mpemba effect’ in the cooling of water).

NETWORKING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING
Recognising the need for closer collaborations between researchers and practitioners, Henry created the Low-Energy Ventilation Network (LEVN) which attracted funding from the UK Fluids Network, and became a core member of the Future Urban Ventilation Network (FUVN) and the Tackling Air Pollution At Schools network (TAPAS) which were both funded by the UKRI Strategic Priorities Fund. Henry benefitted greatly from attending numerous summer schools during his doctoral and post-doctoral training, going on to lead a summer school at the International Centre for Mechanical Sciences in 2024 entitled: Fluid Mechanics of Buildings for Energy, Health, and Well-Being.