RESEARCH PROJECTS

William W. Schultz

 

 

Contact Line Motion for Nearly Inviscid Flows (K. Lay, X. Bian, M. Perlin) Surface tension and surfactants have a significant effect on all waves, but especially short waves.  We examine nonlinear inviscid interactions and incorporate dissipation in an artificial manner to mimic experiments in capillary wave tanks. Previously funded by NASA.

 

Modeling of Arc Welding (G. Xu, F. Wang. E. Kannatey-Asibu) We numerically examine and experimentally verify the effect of droplets from a consumable electrode on the arc welding process. Previously funded by General Motors.

 

Bio- and Chemo-hazard Detection and Remediation (A. Cotel, S. Ceccio) Determine methods to disperse hazards by energy addition and thermal dispersions. Seeking Funding.

 

Modeling of two phase flow in a clutch plate (C. Aphale, S. Ceccio). Find the open clutch drag characteristic of a rotating clutch with grooved paper spacers.  Funded by Dynax Corporation.

 

Hydrodynamics modeling of the laundry process (D. Ackcabay, D. Dowling). With minimal water usage, find cloth-cloth, and cloth-water interaction to determine cleaning of various laundry apparatus.  Funded by Whirlpool Corp.

 

Modeling of Saliva (M. Terpenning, J. Murray) Examination of saliva rheology is important to understand swallowing behavior as well as using saliva as the diagnostic tool in mems devices. We’re particularly interested in understanding aspiration pneumonia and the role of gravity in these processes.  Funded by NASA and U Michigan.

 

Improving Undergraduate Fluid Mechanics Education (J. Foss, Michigan State U.; M. Smith, Georgia Tech; M. Perlin) Web site development for undergraduate fluids instructors to aid classroom demonstrations, homework problems and exam problems. Previously funded by NSF.

 

Mechanics of Fish Swimming (P. Webb, Q.-N. Zhou) Two-dimensional inviscid computations with vortical wake model fish swimming. Results are compared to flow visualization of swimming fish and analyzed for directional stability. Previously funded by National Science Foundation (Regulatory Biology).

 

Modeling the Fluid Mechanics of Paper Forming (E-J. Chen, N. Perkins; P. Beuther, Kimberly-Clark) The formation of a fiber mat on a porous web uses an inviscid model with a modified Darcy's law boundary condition.  The dynamics of the axially moving mat is examined to determine when instabilities can degrade product. Previously funded by Kimberly-Clark, Beloit Corp. and TAPPI.

 

Nonisothermal Analytical and Experimental Study of Viscoelastic Fiber Drawing (E. Arruda, X. Lu) This project combines the efforts of investigators with expertise in materials, heat transfer and rheology to model nonisothermal viscoelastic fiber forming capable of predicting final glass fiber properties.  The viscoelastic constitutive equation includes temperature and internal energy (or analogously for nearly elongational flow, orientation) effects based on the molecular structural evolution and adjusted by rheological measurements. Previously funded by NSF (Materials Eng.)

Desalination Studies (Simo Mäkiharju, H. Merte) Critical aspects of using waste heat and vacuum to desalinate seawater.  Our efforts are focused on modeling and experiments of efficient water dearation before evaporation.  Funded by the Levitt Group.

Air-Layer Drag Reduction on Ship Hulls (C. Aphale, S. Ceccio). Small air pockets on ship hulls reduce skin drag on flat plates modeling flat hulls on Naval Vessels.  Funded by Office of Naval Research.