Magnetic resonance imaging of flow instabilities

Rose, Heather E.L. (2013). Magnetic resonance imaging of flow instabilities. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This research project investigated the formation of flow instabilities and probed this formation using Magnetic resonance imaging. The coupling of hydrodynamic instabilities was investigated with regards to four different systems.

The formation of 3-dimensional viscous fingers has been investigated in a packed bed using magnetic resonance imaging. Fingering patterns are produced as a result of two different chemically reactive interfaces and one non-reactive interface. By the formation of a highly viscous wormlike micelle solution formed at the interface between solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium salicylate (NaSal) viscous fingers were produced under flow. Both a non-reactive and reactive system with a pre-existing viscosity gradient, which remains unchanged throughout the experiment, is studied. The structure of the fingering patterns, which were found to be sensitive to flow rate, were analysed using histogram plots characterising the distribution of pixels containing High signal fluids. We also present an alternative method for plume visualisation and direct measurement of velocities within a solution of Chlamydomonas nivalis cells. We have carried out experiments to investigate the applicability of magnetic resonance imaging to investigate behaviour in this system.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):