Brandon S. Lindley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Transport Phenomena in Viscoelastic Fluids

Abstract:  The goal of this project is to assess the role of linear and non-linear viscoelasticity in flow and diffusive transport relevant to biology, in particular flow of mucus layers in the lung while tracers are simultaneously diffusing.  We model shear wave propagation to characterize viscoelastic fluids, and then use those oscillatory flow profiles to simulate coupled advection and diffusion in experimental shear cells.  We quantify the increase in transit time of dyes to penetrate across a sheared viscoelastic layer, mimicking conditions in the lung.  Further, improvements are made on a classical technique of Ferry for rheological characterization.  This work is in collaboration with Greg Forest, David Hill, Sorin Mitran, and Lingxing Yao.

Advisor: Greg Forest (UNC)