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

这是杜克大学、加州大学洛杉矶分校和北卡罗莱纳州立大学的合作项目，涉及对粘性薄膜流体动力学中一系列相关问题的研究。它结合了分析、计算和实验方法来研究表面活性剂扩散、图案表面、振动强迫、马兰戈尼流、曲面流和旋转涂层流等基本问题。方法包括非线性偏微分方程理论、科学计算、数学建模、渐近学和实验。连接将与应用，如表面活性剂在肺生理的作用，和微流体的新兴领域。每周一次的重点研究小组会议是该项目的中心组织特征，通过促进跨学科，教师，学生和博士后之间的讨论和互动，将研究和教育结合起来。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。这一关于液体薄膜的基础研究的进展将导致在微观尺度上对流体流动物理的新的理论认识，这对新兴的微流体器件技术至关重要。这些“芯片上的实验室”正在改变生物技术，就像微电子技术改变了计算机行业一样。该项目的贡献将有助于确定与特定装置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。除了微流体之外，还将进行表面活性剂在肺液体衬里运输的建模研究。在为这一重要的生理应用开发新理论的过程中，研究小组将重点研究表面活性剂如何改变表面张力，从而产生一种力，使肺壁的液体涂层动员起来。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.