Nearly 100 researchers from around the world are attending a conference this week at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, exploring the use of computational methods to study complex fluids in motion, such as the processes that cause consumer products like shampoos to mix and “demix” and the changes in blood flow that can lead to varicose veins.
The 27th International Conference on Discrete Simulation of Fluid Dynamics (DSFD 2018), which is being held at WPI for the first time, was last held in the United States eight years ago. It is co-chaired by Erkan Tüzel, associate professor of physics, biomedical engineering, and computer science at WPI, and Alexander Wagner, associate professor of physics at North Dakota State University.
Conference sessions focus on advances in theory and computation, as well as on fundamental issues in mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, and statistical mechanics. Other topics include theoretical and experimental work on micro- and nanofluidics, and biological fluids.
Research in fluid dynamics can cover a wide range of subjects, Tüzel said. For example, researchers investigate how complex fluids that contain particulates (including many common consumer items like shampoos and detergents) form uniform mixtures and how, after sitting unused for prolonged periods, they may demix, as oils and other component fluids separate.
Many examples of complex fluids can also be found in biological systems, like the human circulatory system, he said. For example, red blood cells, which are about 8 microns in diameter, must fit through capillaries that are only 8 to 10 microns across. But when red blood cells lose elasticity, they can get stuck in the capillaries, which can lead to varicose veins. “Being able to model the complex interactions of fluids and materials in systems like this, at a variety of scales, has implications for research that could lead to better treatments for patients,” said Tüzel.
Tüzel said the conference promises to provide a variety of research findings and discussions about the state of the art in discrete fluid dynamics modeling.
“This conference brings together a melting pot of researchers from diverse disciplines who are developing algorithms and experiments to move the field of fluid dynamics forward,” said Tüzel. “We expect that innovative and emergent ideas will result from this conference.”
Researchers come from a number of universities, including MIT, Clark University, Brown University, Tufts University, Brandeis University, Huazhong University, ETH Zurich, Technical University of Munich, Oxford University, Kyoto University, and Bangalore University.
WHAT: 27th International Conference on Discrete Simulation of Fluid Dynamics (DSFD 2018)
WHEN: June 25-29, 2018
WHERE: Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Rubin Campus Center, Odeum
WHO: Nearly 100 researchers and professionals worldwide focused on areas such as physics, mechanical engineering, mathematics, biomedical engineering, and aerospace engineering
Additional details:
- Keynotes take place every day in the morning and early afternoon sessions; a “lightning round” of one-minute presentations takes place Monday, 4 to 4:30 p.m.
- For more information and to view the full schedule, visit DSFD 2018.
Media wishing to cover the event should contact media@wpi.edu.
