Laterale Phasentrennung auf Biomembran

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Björn Stinner
• Subject Area: Mathematics
• Term: from 2006 to 2009
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 28197946

The objective is the development and asymptotic analysis of a diffuse interface model for two-phase flows in the presence of a surfactant ant the investigation of surfactant laden drops in shear flow by numerical simulations. Established diffuse interface models for two-phase flows combine a Navier-Stokes system for the flow with a Cahn-Hilliard equation for the interface motion. The plan is to couple such a system to a balance equation for the surfactant in a thermodynamic consistent way such that transport of the surfactant with the flow and diffusion along the interface is taken into account. Calssically, the interfaces in two-phase flow are described by hypersurfaces. The intention is to relate the developed diffuse interface models to such sharp interface models using matched asymptotic expansions. Numerical algorithms are going to be developed and implemented using an adaptive finite element toolkit. The aim is to study the influence of a surfactants on interactions and coalescence of drops. In such situations involving topological changes the diffuse interface approach is expected to be advantageous compared to the classical sharp interface approach.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Dr. Charlie Elliott