FRG: Collaborative Research: New Challenges in the Dynamics of Thin Films and Fluid Interfaces

杜克大学、加州大学洛杉矶分校和北卡罗来纳州立大学的这一合作项目涉及对粘性薄膜流体动力学中一系列相互关联的问题的研究。它结合了分析、计算和实验方法，解决了有关表面活性剂扩散、图案化表面、振动强迫、Marangoni流、曲面上的流动和旋涂流动等基本问题。方法包括非线性偏微分方程组理论、科学计算、数学建模、渐近性和实验。将与表面活性剂在肺生理学中的作用以及新兴的微流体领域等应用联系起来。每周一次的重点研究小组会议是该项目的主要组织特征，通过促进跨学科的讨论和互动，以及教师、学生和博士后之间的讨论和互动，将研究和教育结合在一起。这个项目的中心主题是研究表面张力如何在许多不同的环境中控制微尺度流体的运动。薄膜液体基础研究的进展将使人们从理论上对微观尺度上的流体流动物理有新的认识，这对微流控器件的新兴技术至关重要。这些“芯片上的实验室”正在改变生物技术，就像微电子改变计算机产业一样。该项目的贡献将有助于确定与特定设备相关的流体流动和表面属性，并为该领域未来的研究奠定理论基础。除微流体学外，还将研究表面活性物质在肺部液体衬里中的传输模型。在为这一重要的生理应用开发新的理论时，研究小组将专注于表面活性物质如何改变表面张力，从而产生动员肺壁液体涂层的力量。在这个项目中，理论、实验和数值模拟的发展将涉及与应用程序直接相关的科学家和工程师的持续互动。

This collaborative project among Duke University, the University of California at Los Angeles, and North Carolina State University involves research into an array of interrelated problems in the fluid dynamics of thin viscous films. It combines analytical, computational, and experimental approaches to fundamental issues concerning surfactant spreading, patterned surfaces, vibrational forcing, Marangoni flows, flows on curved surfaces, and spin-coating flows. Methods include the theory of nonlinear partial differential equations, scientific computing, mathematical modeling, asymptotics, and experiments. Connections will be made with applications such as the role of surfactants in lung physiology, and the emerging field of microfluidics. The weekly Focused Research Group meeting, a central organizing feature of the project, combines research and education by promoting discussion and interaction across disciplines, and among faculty, students, and post-docs. The central theme of this project is the study of how surface tension forces govern the motion of micro-scale fluids in many different settings. Progress in this basic research on thin liquid films will lead to new theoretical understanding of the physics of fluid flow on a microscopic scale, which is crucial to the emerging technology of microfluidic devices. These "labs on a chip" are transforming biotechnology in much the same way that microelectronics has transformed the computing industry. Contributions from this project will help to identify fluid flows and surface properties relevant to specific devices, as well as establishing the theoretical underpinnings for future research in this area. In addition to microfluidics, research will also be undertaken in the modeling of surfactant transport in the liquid lining of the lung. In developing new theory for this important physiological application, the research group will focus on how the surfactant changes surface tension, giving rise to a force that mobilizes the fluid coating of the lung walls. Development of theory, experiments, and numerical simulations in this project will involve ongoing interactions with scientists and engineers directly connected with the applications.