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

杜克大学、洛杉矶的加州大学和北卡罗来纳州州立大学的这一合作项目涉及对薄粘性膜的流体动力学中的一系列相关问题的研究。 它结合了分析，计算和实验方法，有关表面活性剂的传播，图案化的表面，振动强迫，马兰戈尼流，曲面上的流动，和旋涂流动的基本问题。 方法包括非线性偏微分方程理论，科学计算，数学建模，渐近和实验。 连接将与应用程序，如表面活性剂在肺生理学中的作用，和微流体的新兴领域。 每周一次的重点研究小组会议，该项目的一个中心组织功能，通过促进跨学科，教师，学生和博士后之间的讨论和互动，结合研究和教育。 该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。 在薄液膜的基础研究的进展将导致新的理论理解的微观尺度上的流体流动的物理，这是至关重要的新兴技术的微流体装置。 这些“芯片上的实验室”正在改变生物技术，就像微电子改变了计算行业一样。 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特性，并为该领域的未来研究奠定理论基础。 除了微流体技术，还将进行肺液体衬里中表面活性剂转运的建模研究。 在为这一重要的生理应用开发新理论的过程中，研究小组将重点关注表面活性剂如何改变表面张力，从而产生一种动员肺壁流体涂层的力。 在这个项目中，理论、实验和数值模拟的发展将涉及与应用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.