Stability of fibre-reinforced viscous flows

Holloway, Craig Roy (2017). Stability of fibre-reinforced viscous flows. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This thesis focusses on two models (inactive and active) for fibre-reinforced viscous flows, examples of which may be found in numerous industrial and biological applications. In chapters 2-4 we consider Ericksen's model for a transversely isotropic fluid, which treats suspensions of nonmotile particles as a continuum with an evolving preferred direction; this model describes fibrous materials as diverse as extracellular matrix, textile tufts and cellulose microfibers. Linear stability analyses of transversely isotropic viscous fluid between two rotating co-axial cylinders and two horizontal boundaries of different temperatures are undertaken in chapters 3 and 4 respectively. In both cases, the inclusion of transversely isotropic effects delays the onset of instability. In chapter 5 we describe a framework commonly used to model active suspensions, which has been applied to suspensions of self-propelling bacteria, algae and sperm, and artificial swimmers. Through linking this model for an active suspension with that for a transversely isotropic fluid, we identify previously neglected components of the stress tensor that significantly alter the rheology. In chapter 6 we examine the linear stability of isotropic and nearly-aligned suspensions of elongated particles, before giving a summary of our findings in
chapter 7.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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