Hydrodynamic Mechanisms for Controlling Drop Coalescence

摘要提案编号：CTS-0553551首席研究员：Loewenberg，Michael隶属机构：耶鲁大学提案标题：控制液滴聚结的流体动力学机制知识点：尽管液滴聚结经常发生，但人们对液滴聚结的理解仍然不充分，并且仍然是科学奋进的一个活跃领域。在大多数应用中，液滴聚结是由在接近接触的液滴之间形成的薄液膜的非线性流体动力学控制的。 拟议的项目将采用数值，理论和实验方法。将开发数值模拟，以探索周围的流动条件对变形液滴的近接触运动的影响，其结果将被用来指导制定一个新的渐近理论逮捕和加速膜排水。该研究将进一步加深对液膜排水和液滴聚并的基本认识。一个新的理论框架将被开发用于理解和预测薄液膜的行为和解释液滴聚结的实验。关于环境流动条件对液滴聚结影响的持续争论将得到解决。该项目包括与桑迪亚实验室建立新的研究伙伴关系。更广泛的影响：这项研究的结果将导致控制液滴聚结的改进技术，从而控制广泛的工程系统中的液滴尺寸分布，包括悬浮聚合、聚合物共混、液液萃取、食品加工和先进材料加工（例如，膜、光子材料）。建议中讨论了所提出的理论的组合实验的微电路器件的设计的应用。参与这项研究的研究生将获得广泛的工程科学和数学背景。他们将有机会获得教学经验，因为在数学密集课程的需求，以及合格的教学助理和导师。拟议的研究将为本科生（REU）提供研究经验。PI已经建立了鼓励研究生获得教学经验和参与研究项目的本科生的记录。该项目还将支持PI继续努力促进参与科学和工程的人员的多样性。

ABSTRACTProposal Number: CTS-0553551Principal Investigator: Loewenberg, MichaelAffiliation: Yale UniversityProposal Title: Hydrodynamic Mechanisms for Controlling Drop CoalescenceIntellectual Merit:Despite its commonplace occurrence, drop coalescence is still not well understood and continues to be an active area of scientific endeavor. In most applications drop coalescence is controlled by the nonlinear hydrodynamics of the thin liquid film that forms between drops in near contact. The proposed project will employ numerical, theoretical, and experimental methods. Numerical simulations will be developed to explore the effect of ambient flow conditions on the near contact motion of deformable drops, and the results will be used to guide the formulation of a new asymptotic theory for arrested and accelerated film drainage. The proposed research will further a basic understanding of film drainage and drop coalescence. A new theoretical framework will be developed for understanding and predicting the behavior of thin liquid films and for interpreting experiments on drop coalescence. The ongoing controversy regarding the influence of ambient flow conditions on drop coalescence will be resolved. The project includes the development of a new research partnership with Sandia Laboratories. Broader Impact:The results of this research will lead to improved techniques for controlling drop coalescence, and thus controlling the drop size distribution in a wide range of engineering systems including suspension polymerization, polymer blending, liquid liquid extraction, food processing, and advanced materials processing (e.g., membranes, photonic materials). Application of the proposed theory to the design of microuidic devices for combinatorial experiments is discussed in the proposal. Graduate students involved in this study will acquire a broad engineering science and mathematics background. They will have the opportunity to gain teaching experience because of the demand for well qualified teaching assistants and tutors in mathematically intensive courses. The proposed study will provide research experience for undergraduate students (REU). The PI has established a record of encouraging graduate students to gain teaching experience and involving undergraduates in research projects. The project will also support the PI's continuing efforts to advance the diversity of people participating in science and engineering.