| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/T24593/01 |
| Title: |
Statistical mechanics of complex fluids under shear |
| Principal Investigator: |
Evans, Dr RML |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of Leeds |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
25 February 2005 |
Ends: |
24 November 2008 |
Value (£): |
219,365
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Complex fluids & soft solids |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Food and Drink |
| Healthcare |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Complex fluids such as polymer blends, surfactant solutions and emulsions are routinely subjected to shear flow during manufacturing and processing. But it is difficult to predict the effects of shear flow on a complex fluid. In the case of stirring an emulsion, the flow results in mixing, while in some surfactant solutions, shear flow can lead to de-mixing, separating the solution into regions with different micro-structures, and therefore different viscosities.At equilibrium (in the absence of flow), statistical mechanics is used to calculate a fluid's macroscopic properties from a knowledge of microscopic interactions. But, away from equilibrium, standard methods of statistical mechanics are inapplicable, so predictive theory has traditionally resorted to a combination of intuition and number crunching.Recent developments in the theory of driven steady states and non-equilibrium applications of information theory have opened up new possibilities for the detailed investigation of shear flow in complex fluids. A rigorous basis now exists for the theoretical modelling of non-equilibrium steady-states of matter. With the aid of a postdoctoral researcher and a PhD student, we aim to investigate idealized models of interacting particles under shear, and develop the new theoretical methods, to discover some fundamental physical principles that can be applied to all types of flowing fluids. A better appreciation of the effects of shear flow will have tremendously important consequences for the future design and processing of materials.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.leeds.ac.uk |