Xiaofeng Yang, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill


DYNAMIC DEFECT MORPHOLOGY AND HYDRODYNAMICS OF SHEARED NEMATIC POLYMERS IN TWO SPACE DIMENSIONS


Abstract: Dynamic (unsteady) defect structures arising in the hydrodynamics of sheared nematic liquids are investigated numerically in two space dimensions. We simulate the classical experiments by Larson and Mead (1993) on defects associated with the breakup of stationary roll cells under steady shear conditions. We employ the flow-orientation solver together with tensorial defect metrics and graphical representations and provide compelling evidence that orientational morphology and evolution are primarily organized around persistent oblate defect domains, whereas defect topology varies transiently, including significant time sequences with trivial topology.

Postdoctoral Mentor: Greg Forest (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)