The aim of this Faraday Partnership project is to develop theoretical models to describe multiphase flows in flexible microchannels found in biological and engineered networks. Asymptotic and numerical techniques appropriate to free surface flows and flow-structure interactions will be exploited to understand the complex dynamics of instabilities in these systems. This work will help to improve the design of high-throughput microfluidic devices and improve understanding of drug delivery and the release of nutrition or flavour from foods in the small intestine.

Project staff and support

Hannah Woollard (Postgraduate Faraday Associate, University of Nottingham)
John Billingham (Academic supervisor, University of Nottingham)
Oliver Jensen (Academic supervisor, University of Nottingham)
Guoping Lian (Industrial supervisor, Unilever)
John Melrose (Industrial supervisor, Unilever)
Heather Tewkesbury (Technology Translator, Smith Institute)

This project is being carried out at the University of Nottingham, in conjunction with Unilever. It is supported by an EPSRC industrial CASE award, made available through the Faraday Partnership for Industrial Mathematics. Start date: October 2004; duration: 3 years.