Modelling revolUtion for Complex flUid flow over Surfaces and walls

ended

Complex fluids transport and flow over surfaces governs the production of many European and global industries, along with natural hazards. Unability to predict and control such flows leads to technological barriers for novel applications (such as 3D printing, with groundbreaking potential from tissue engineering to sustainable foods). Traditional process industries waste energy when trying to improve mixing and prevent clogging (10% of the energy consumption of the world is estimated to come from handling of granular materials, of which complex fluids are an important part). These processes are extremely challenging to control, because theories for complex fluid flows have large gaps, in particular fluids with yield-stress (that flow when sheared strongly, but are solids otherwise). The MUCUS proposal will revolutionize the state-of-the-art understanding of complex fluid flow over surfaces, by simulations which were impossible until now. This will be achieved by our high-fidelity methods that for the first time enabled three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of turbulent yield-stress fluids, suspensions of tens of thousands of particles, and advanced dynamical analyses of complex flows. Processes designed for Newtonian fluids do not work for complex fluids, and there is an urgent need for improved theories and models. In 3D printing important questions relate to flow properties of the ink/gel before it dries and its yield stress. Very little is known about inertial, transient yield-stress fluid flow over surface hills, grooves and wettability patterns. MUCUS proposal aims to: i) reveal unique new insight of the inertial transport, mixing, spreading and impact of complex fluids on surfaces ii) create the first database in the field of yield-stress fluid simulations, experiments and their cross-validation, and iii) develop novel analysis tools, and couplings between micro- and macrostructure, to enable controlled design of complex fluids processes in the future