Fluid-structural science for the design of nursing bottles

在世界各地，许多婴儿完全依赖奶瓶喂养。此外，大多数母乳喂养的婴儿也需要使用奶瓶喂养，并随着他们的成长而转变为奶瓶喂养。奶瓶喂养对婴儿的健康成长和发育非常重要。奶瓶的设计对奶瓶喂养至关重要。奶瓶的设计对奶瓶的流动特性有很大的影响，而奶瓶的流动特性又决定了奶瓶的喂养性能。奶瓶喂养比母乳喂养显示出更高的喂养相关疾病的发病率。奶瓶喂养的一个主要问题是空气摄入，这会导致绞痛和其他胃肠道疾病。世界范围内对具有更好喂养性能的奶瓶有需求。 UBC的多相流实验室正在与加拿大领先的奶瓶制造商ReliaBrand合作开发下一代奶瓶。作为长期合作的一部分，提出了一个联合实验和数值研究项目，以1）确定奶瓶的重要设计参数，2）确定设计参数和流动特性之间的关系，3）开发创新的奶瓶，提供自然母乳喂养的喂养性能。该项目将研究由压缩和抽吸驱动的脉冲流的复杂流体动力学，并探索与排气阀和奶嘴相关的流体结构动力学。一个实验系统， 将建立同步数据采集和流动可视化，并将开发瓶和主要部件的数值模型。 这项研究将有利于加拿大和世界各地婴儿的健康成长和发育。该项目将帮助ReliaBrand成为世界行业领导者，从而增强加拿大在世界婴儿护理市场的竞争力。该项目符合加拿大支持行业竞争力的议程，也支持加拿大卫生部改善所有加拿大人健康的目标。

Throughout the world a large number of infants rely solely on bottle feeds. Moreover, most breast-fed babies also need to take bottle feeds, and switch to bottle feeding as they grow. Bottle feeding is very important for the healthy growth and development of babies. Essential to bottle feeding is the design of nursing bottles. The bottle design has significant impact on the flow characteristics of the bottle, which in turn determines the feeding performance. Bottle feeding shows higher incidence of feeding-associated diseases than breast feeding. One major issue with bottle feeding is air ingestion, which leads to colic and other gastrointestinal disorders. There is a worldwide demand for nursing bottles with better feeding performance. The Multiphase Flows Lab at UBC is collaborating with ReliaBrand, the leading manufacturer of nursing bottles in Canada, to develop next-generation nursing bottles. As part of the long term collaboration, a joint experimental and numerical research project is proposed to 1) identify important design parameters of the nursing bottle, 2) determine the relationship between design parameters and flow characteristics, and 3) develop innovative bottles that provide feeding performance like natural breastfeeding. The project will investigate the complicated fluid dynamics of pulsed flows driven by compression and suction, and explore the fluid-structural dynamics related to the venting valve and bottle nipple. An experimental system equipped with synchronized data acquisition and flow visualization will be established, and numerical models for the bottle and major components will be developed. The proposed research will benefit the healthy growth and development of babies both in Canada and across the world. The project will help ReliaBrand become the world industry leader, and will therefore lead to strengthening Canada's competitiveness in the world baby care market. The project fits into Canada's agenda to support industry competitiveness, and also supports the aim of Health Canada to improve the health of all Canadians.