Collaborative Research: The Interplay of Water Condensation and Fungal Growth on Biological Surfaces

凹凸不平的真菌斑块上的凝结水对真菌的发育、繁殖和传播具有重要意义；这些会导致植物污染、工程表面腐蚀和室内环境空气质量。该项目将研究真菌生长与植物和工程表面凝结之间的关系。受真菌斑块等生物系统的启发，该研究还旨在探索凝结和真菌对基础设施和室内空气质量（如飞机和封闭建筑物）的相互关联作用。该项目的教育部分是多方面的，包括本科生研究和指导，特别强调来自代表性不足的少数群体的学生。技术目标旨在探索(1)真菌对生物表面宏观地形和润湿性特征的时空变化；(2)大尺度地表地形对重复凝结的累积效应；(3)水蒸气的表面吸收对真菌的影响以及对相关相变传热现象的影响；(4)数学模型的发展与应用。尽管大量的实证研究表明真菌斑块的扩张、高湿度和高温之间存在强大的相关性，但在水的周期性相变期间发生的潜在热传输动力学在很大程度上仍然难以捉摸。本研究的意义在于发现相变的内在机制。该研究结合了真菌和植物表面的精确定量评估，在定制的湿度室中利用先进的光学测量方法来促进这些评估。结合真菌生长和凝结行为的数学模型也将被开发。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Condensed water on the bumpy fungal patches is important for the development, reproduction, and dissemination of fungi; these contribute to contamination in plants, corrosion on engineered surfaces, and the quality of the air in indoor environments. The project will study the relationship between fungal growth and condensation on plant and engineered surfaces. Inspired by biological systems like fungal patches, the research also aims to explore the inter-related roles of condensation and fungi on infrastructure, and indoor air quality such as those in airplanes and enclosed buildings. The educational component of the project is multifaceted, involving undergraduate research and mentorship, with a particular emphasis on involving students from underrepresented minority groups.The technical objectives aim to explore (1) the spatial and temporal variations in the macroscale topography and wettability characteristics of biological surfaces due to fungi; (2) the cumulative effects of macroscale surface topography on repeated condensation; (3) the impact of surface absorption of water vapor on fungi and on the associated phase change heat transfer phenomena; and (4) the development and application of mathematical models. Despite numerous empirical studies illustrating the robust correlation between the expansion of fungal patches, high levels of humidity, and elevated temperatures, the underlying thermal transport dynamics occurring during the periodic phase transitions of water have remained largely elusive. The intellectual significance of this research lies in discovering the mechanisms inherent in phase transitions. The study incorporates precise quantitative evaluations of fungal and plant surfaces, leveraging advanced optical measurement methodologies within a custom-built humidity chamber to facilitate these assessments. Mathematical models that incorporate fungal growth and condensation behavior will also be developed.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.