Control of flow patterns in complex fluids on the micron scale (B04)

• Subject Area: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2011 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 163436311

Soft materials or complex fluids show a rich and fascinating variety of flow phenomena in non-equilibrium. The project uses computer simulations to explore control strategies such as hysteretic and time-delayed feedback to manipulate complex fluids, engineer their self-assembly, and design novel motional flow patterns. In the first subproject we investigate timely aspects of inertial microfluidics, which is of high relevance for biomedical applications. In the second subproject we concentrate on viscoelastic, shear-thinning, and active fluids and use feedback control to design their flow. Our work treats model systems for complex flow occurring in nature and it is relevant for fluid mixing in microfluidics and for microrheology.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 910: Control of Self-Organising Non-Linear Systems: Theoretical Methods and Concepts of Application
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Berlin
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Holger Stark