Polymer Maximum Drag Reduction: A Unique Transitional State

The upper bound of polymer drag reduction is identified as a unique transitional state between laminar and turbulent flow corresponding to the onset of the nonlinear breakdown of flow instabilities

System and method for confining an object to a region of fluid flow having a stagnation point

A device for confining an object to a region proximate to a fluid flow stagnation point includes one or more inlets for carrying the fluid into the region, one or more outlets for carrying the fluid out of the region, and a controller, in fluidic communication with the inlets and outlets, for adjusting the motion of the fluid to produce a stagnation point in the region, thereby confining the object to the region. Applications include, for example, prolonged observation of the object, manipulation of the object, etc. The device optionally may employ a feedback control mechanism, a sensing apparatus (e.g., for imaging), and a storage medium for storing, and a computer for analyzing and manipulating, data acquired from observing the object. The invention further provides methods of using such a device and system in a number of fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, material science, and medical science

Instability of a Supersonic Boundary-Layer with Localized Roughness

A localized 3-D roughness causes boundary-layer separation and (weak) shocks. Most importantly, streamwise vortices occur which induce streamwise (low U, high T) streaks. Immersed boundary method (volume force) suitable to represent roughness element in DNS. Favorable comparison between bi-global stability theory and DNS for a "y-mode" Outlook: Understand the flow physics (investigate "z-modes" in DNS through sinuous spanwise forcing, study origin of the beat in DNS)

IMECE2005-80104 INDUCED-CHARGE ELECTROPHORESIS IN SUSPENSIONS OF RODLIKE PARTICLES: THEORY AND SIMULATIONS

ABSTRACT Recent developments in microfluidics and analytical chemistry have spurred renewed interest in electrokinetic manipula INTRODUCTION Suspended macromolecules and colloidal particles occur commonly in microfluidic applications, and developing tactics for controlling their motions and orientations can be of paramount importance. A promising example, which motivates the present work, consists in sub-micrometer metallic rod