Dynamics of soft-membrane capsules in a channel flow

Title: Dynamics of soft-membrane capsules in a channel flow

Abstract: Understanding the dynamics of soft membranes in a fluid flow is important in various biological systems. In this talk, we will discuss a numerical formulation required to simulate the dynamics of capsules subjected to a shear and extensional flow, such as in a channel flow with a constriction. We have developed a parallel numerical solver that employs a front tracking algorithm in a finite volume method framework to capture the membrane dynamics in three dimensional flows. An interaction potential is used to model the interactions between the membrane and the walls of the microchannel. Using the solver we propose a device that can be employed for sorting soft capsules based on their stiffnesses. We will also discuss some simulations for the dislodging dynamics of capsules adhering to a wall in a channel flow.

Speaker Bio: Gaurav Tomar is a faculty member in the Mechanical Engineering Department at IISc. He earned his PhD from IIT Kanpur in 2008. His research interests include multiphase flow simulations, interfacial instabilities, multiscale simulations, and the electrohydrodynamics of bubbles and drops, with a focus on complex fluid flows.