PX921-7.5 Micro & Nano Flows across Scales & Phases
Introductory description
N/A.
Module aims
Provide students with techniques to model small-scale flows, which necessitate the inclusion of complex interfacial dynamics and the adoption of theories that go beyond the Navier-Stokes-Fourier paradigm. Introduce students to multiscale modelling methods that connect microscopic physics to engineering-scale system properties.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
The module will cover two of the topics listed below, which will differ from year to year.
Topic 1: Interfacial phenomena
a. formulation of surface tension driven flows
i. dynamic BC, kinematic BC, Young’s law
b. exemplars
i. statics (capillary rise, Young-Laplace equation)
ii. dynamics (stability of jets/films, cavitation of bubbles, thin films)
iii. wetting (moving contact line paradox, dynamic contact angles)
c. additional nanoscale physics
i. slip conditions (underlying physics, models,
ii. disjoining pressures (for film breakup)
iii. thermal fluctuations (in stability problems)
Topic 2: Kinetic theory for gas microflows
d. Grad’s method
e. Chapman-Enskog expansions
f. NSF derivation and models that go beyond (e.g. G13)
Topic 3: Molecular dynamics for liquid nanoflows
g. non-equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (algorithms, thermostats, controllers)
h. nano-channel flows
i. carbon nanotube membranes
j. open-source codes (mdFoam+, LAMMPS)
Topic 4: Multiscale fluid dynamics
k. domain decomposition
l. the Heterogeneous Multiscale Method (HMM)
m. time-step multi-scaling
n. applications in micro/nano-scale internal flows
o. machine learning and surrogate micro-model generation.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Understand the limitations of classical fluid dynamics.
- Recognise circumstances in which additional microscale physics is required.
- Be confident in formulating models that go beyond NSF.
- Be able to solve computationally the formulated models.
Indicative reading list
Topic 1: Capillarity & Wetting Phenomena: Drops, Bubbles, Pearls & Waves, by deGennes et al
Topic 2: Macroscopic Transport Equations for Rarefied Gas Flows, by Struchtrup
Topic 3: Computer Simulation of Liquids (2nd Edition). M. P. Allen & D. J. Tildesley, Clarendon Press
Topic 4:
W. E, B. Engquist, X. Li, W. Ren, E. Vanden-Eijnden, Heterogeneous multiscale methods: a review, Commun. Comput. Phys. 2 (2007) 367–450.
K.M. Mohamed, A.A. Mohamad, A review of the development of hybrid atomistic-continuum methods for dense fluids, Microfluid. Nanofluid. 8 (2010) 283–302.
Subject specific skills
Understand the limitations of classical fluid dynamics;
Recognise circumstances in which additional microscale physics is required;
Be confident in formulating models that go beyond NSF.
Be able to solve computationally the formulated models.
Transferable skills
Programming, modelling, data analysis
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 6 sessions of 2 hours (16%) |
| Practical classes | 2 sessions of 2 hours (5%) |
| Private study | 34 hours (45%) |
| Assessment | 25 hours (33%) |
| Total | 75 hours |
Private study description
Reading etc
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group D
| Weighting | Study time | |
|---|---|---|
| Computational Project (1 of 2) | 30% | 10 hours |
|
Based on topic 1. |
||
| Computational Project (2 of 2) | 30% | 10 hours |
|
Based on topic 2. |
||
| Viva Voce examination | 40% | 5 hours |
|
30 Mins. On the core material. |
||
Feedback on assessment
-\tWritten annotations to submitted computational notebooks\r\n-\tVerbal discussion during viva voce exam\r\n-\tWritten summary of viva performance
Courses
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 1 of TPXA-F344 Postgraduate Taught Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems
This module is Core option list A for:
- Year 2 of TPXA-F345 Postgraduate Taught Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (PGDip)