SBIR Phase I: Virtual Prototyping Tool for Polymer Flow Process

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将为非牛顿流动系统开发一种工程设计级模拟工具，例如用于先进材料工程和工艺设计的聚合物和悬浮液。使用格子Boltzmann方法(LBM)中依赖应变率的松弛时间，将使用最近开发的在介观水平上的流变特性的创新建模。验证研究将包括对压力驱动流动中的“喷涌”和活塞驱动流动中的持续振荡进行定量分析，然后对复杂几何工业原型装置中的聚合流动进行定性初步研究。该项目将生产迫切需要的设计工具，以克服各种制造和加工行业的物理和/或工程限制，潜在的应用包括涂层和纤维纺丝、填充和非填充有机硅的新工艺和材料的设计和生产、柴油动力装置和排放、注塑成型、环保工艺、海军工程中的减阻和防结冰飞机喷雾。

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I project will develop an engineering design level simulation tool for non-Newtonian flow systems, such as polymers and suspensions used in advanced materials engineering and process design. Recently developed innovative modeling of rheological properties at a mesoscopic level, using a rate-of-strain dependent relaxation time in the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), will be used. Validation studies will include quantitative analysis of "spurt" in pressure-driven flow and persistent oscillations in piston-driven flow followed by a qualitative pilot study of polymeric flow in a complex geometrical industrial prototype device. This project will produce design tools that are urgently needed to overcome physical and/or engineering limits in various manufacturing and processing industries, Potential applications include coating and fiber spinning, design and production of new processes and materials for filled and unfilled silicones, diesel powerplant and emissions, injection molding, environmentally benign processes, drag reduction in naval engineering, and ant-icing aircraft sprays.