Julia Yeomans' Group
L2R: Gareth,
Nidhal, Jen, Kalli,
Julia, Alex, Matt, Halim, and Riku
The
aim of
our research is to study the physics of complex fluids. The
systems we are interested in include miscible and immiscible binary and
ternary fluids, amphiphilic systems, polymer solutions and liquid
crystals.
Complex fluids exhibit an enormous variety of ordering and flow
properties
that depend sensitively on the details of their composition. By
developing
theories and simulations that allow control of both the equilibrium
(phase structure,
interface shape) and flow (viscosity, diffusivity) behaviour of the
fluids
we aim to gain a fuller understanding of their physical properties.
The
research is proceeding in several
directions. Firstly we are interested
in exploring the theoretical basis of mesoscale simulation techniques
and
their
links to fundamental problems
in thermodynamics, kinetic theory and
phase
equilibria. Secondly we are investigating the physical properties of
liquids,
for example the kinetics of phase separation or the effect of flow on
polymer dynamics.
Thirdly we are working towards
the simulation of problems of industrial relevance such as multiphase
flow in microchannels, liquid crystal switching, and ink-jet printing.
Current
Projects:
Liquid
Crystals
Polymer
Hydrodynamics
Wetting
and Spreading
