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

凹凸不平的真菌斑块上的冷凝水对真菌的发育、繁殖和传播非常重要;这些都会导致植物污染、工程表面腐蚀以及室内环境的空气质量。该项目将研究植物和工程表面上真菌生长和冷凝之间的关系。受真菌斑块等生物系统的启发，该研究还旨在探索冷凝和真菌对基础设施以及飞机和封闭建筑物等室内空气质量的相互关联作用。该项目的教育部分是多方面的，涉及本科生研究和指导，特别强调让代表性不足的少数群体的学生参与，技术目标旨在探索（1）真菌引起的生物表面宏观形貌和润湿性特征的时空变化;（2）宏观表面形貌对反复冷凝的累积影响;（3）真菌引起的生物表面微观形貌和润湿性特征的时空变化;（4）真菌引起的生物表面微观形貌和润湿性特征的时空变化;（5）真菌引起的生物表面微观形貌和润湿性特征的时空变化。（3）表面吸收水蒸气对真菌的影响以及对相关相变传热现象的影响;（4）数学模型的发展和应用。尽管许多实证研究表明真菌斑块的扩张，高湿度和高温之间的强大的相关性，在水的周期性相变过程中发生的潜在的热传输动力学在很大程度上仍然难以捉摸。这项研究的智力意义在于发现相变的内在机制。该研究结合了对真菌和植物表面的精确定量评估，利用定制湿度箱中的先进光学测量方法来促进这些评估。该奖项反映了NSF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.