Environmental & Biological Fluid Mechanics

Environmental fluid mechanics encompasses the motion of the atmosphere, clouds, oceans, rivers, and lakes. It also extends to the transport of particulate matter such as sediments, pollutants, and aerosols across the planetary boundary layer. Bio-fluid mechanics includes the transport of blood, air and other important fluids within biological systems. It also involves the transport and manipulation of externally introduced agents such as microbubbles for ultrasound contrast imaging and liposomes for drug-delivery.

How do rain drops form from small cloud droplets? Modern computer simulations can probe into local regions in atmospheric clouds to reveal how air turbulence contributes to this process. Similar computer experiments have been used to develop new knowledge that makes it possible to accurately model complex processes such as particle transport, dispersion, mixing, sedimentation, and particle coagulation.

Cumulus clouds differ dramatically from other free-shear flows in the way they entrain dry ambient air. As a result, models for cloud ascent height and precipitation can give incorrect predictions. Laboratory analogues in combination with modern experimental diagnostic tools can provide insight into cumulus cloud entrainment without expensive field measurements.

Liposomes are soft nanoparticles ideal for targeted drug delivery. Their lipid bilayer surface is functionalized to target a specific protein as shown here. They deform on binding with the target, and upon polymerization retain target signature.

Along with liposomes, encapsulated microbubbles are used as agents to enhance contrast of ultrasound images. The echocardiography of the left ventricle is shown here to markedly improve when microbubbles are introduced.

Echocardiography

In-vitro measurements of airflow in the human nasal passage are performed using anatomically accurate, transparent models created from rapid prototyping of CT data. This effort is motivated by (1) toxicological effects of inhaled particulate matter; and (2) therapeutic effects of drugs delivered through the airways.

A theoretical computation simulates cell division on a solid substrate. The droplet can be made to split, if it releases surfactant from within itself. A cell can make itself divide by the simple mechanism of placing surface-active material on the cell membrane. The membrane itself is made of lipids and cells certainly have the ability to make surfactant.

Which faculty members are doing research in this area? Take a look at the Faculty Research Matrix to find out.