Computational modelling of soft and complex interfaces in flows and bio-inspired phenomena
Contact person: Andreas Carlson
Keywords: Interfacial flow, biological interfaces, soft matter physics, fluid mechanics
Research group: Mechanics/Twist: Optimizing Capillary Flows in Twisted Fiber Structures (ERC)
Soft interfaces that interact with a fluid are found in a myriad of processes, relevant to sustainable engineering of soft robotics, harvesting water from fog nets, organisation of cells in animal tissue, interfacial flows in milli-/micro-fluidics, plant flight organs, the hidden replication of viruses on membranes to how membrane-less compartments in cells regulating their activity. There are also fundamental questions open about how droplets interact and wet on complex twisted fibers, where liquid spreading in the wedges formed between the different fibers. Projects within this theme, should include development of new computational tools targeted to describe how dynamics of soft interfaces (liquid/liquid/gas, elastic, or lipid membranes) constituents can drive the interfacial flow dynamics. These active constituents are exemplified by how proteins and viruses can mould cellular membranes, to how surfactants and biological materials drive active wetting process and flow, to how tissue reconfigurations induce shape changes.
Some relevant topics with active interfaces include (but not limited to) the computational modelling of:
- Capillary two and three phase flow also including wetting of soft surfaces with complex properties e.g., rheological, elastic or poro-elastic.
- Sliding of droplets on complex fibers
- Contact line dynamics in wedges
- Elastohydrodynamic flows, coupling elastic surface deformations with fluid flow
- Active wetting processes in cells
- Flight of plant diaspores and wing morphing
- Reconfiguration of cellular membranes and interactions between bio-condensates and cellular membranes
Mentoring and internship will be offered by a relevant external partner.