Complex Fluids Research Group

The Rheological Microfluidic Lab focuses on the development of microfluidic technologies for the rheological characterisation of complex fluids, generally not achievable via conventional technologies. Simultaneously, the lab exploits the rich and diverse properties of complex fluids for microfluidic applications such as particle focusing, separation, ordering and encapsulation with high efficiency. Recently, the laboratory has expanded its reach towards the development of novel materials while also bringing machine learning and artificial intelligence to bear on problems associated with the behaviour of droplets microfluidic geometries.

The Complex Flow Lab studies the flow behaviour of mixtures of granular materials and fluids. Friction and jamming add to the “usual” fluid dynamics, producing a wide range of intricate flow behaviours that are complex and challenging to control. Examples of granular suspensions include sediments, volcanic magma, concrete, foods and pharmaceuticals. 

The Advanced Rheometry Lab houses a suite of advanced rheometric equipment which is used to develop new protocols for characterising the flow and deformation properties of complex fluids which cannot be probed using conventional approaches. For example, many materials evolve over the timescales necessary for conventional analysis and hence novel, fast-acquisition, protocols must be developed. Further, the Lab studies the complex interplay between microstructure and flow using both advanced rheometry and imaging platforms. We also work closely with the team of Prof. Karl Hawkins of the Faculty of Medicine and the NHS to develop rheometric approaches to blood coagulation monitoring and characterising rheologically challenging, clinical materials.  

Dolomite Microfluidics, Benson Viscometry, Anton Paar, Rockfield, Wall Colmonoy, NHS, Netszch

Our group is in the unique position of offering expertise in complex fluids ranging across multiple scales. Please get in contact with the group members if you would like to discuss a potential project.

Biorheology group (Faculty of Medicine)

Welsh centre for printing and coating

• A Ogunkeye, R Hudson, AR Davies & DJ Curtis, The Gordon-Schowalter/Johnson-Segalman model in parallel and orthogonal superposition rheometry and its application in the study of worm-like micellular systems. Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluids. (Accepted March 2024).
• P Angerman, S P Kumar, R Seto, B Sandnes, M Ellero. Microstrucutral smoothed particle hydrodynamics model and simulations of discontinuous shear-thickening fluids. Physics of Fluids 36 (2024) 033103
• Z Xiong, P Angerman, M Ellero and B Sandnes. Ridge instability in dense suspensions caused by the second normal stress difference. Physics of Fluids 36 (2024) 024111
• Zhang, D., Campbell, J.M., Eriksen, J.A., Flekkøy, E.G., Måløy, K.J., MacMinn, C.W., and Sandnes, B. Frictional fluid instabilities shaped by viscous forces. Nat Commun 14, 3044 (2023).
• A Ogunkeye, R Hudson, DJ Curtis. The effect of instrument inertia on the initiation of oscillatory flow in stress controlled rheometry. Journal of Rheology (Accepted 6th Sept 2023)
• C Biggs, B Gannon, J Courtney, D Curtis, C Dunnill. Electrolysing mud: Membraneless electrolysis of water for hydrogen production using montmorillonite-rich marine mud. Applied Clay Science. 241 (2023), 106950.
• DJ Curtis & AR Davies, Weird and wonderful response spectra in superposition Rheometry. Rheology Bulletin 63 (2022) 53 -73
• Jeyasountharan, A., D'Avino, G., & Del Giudice, F. (2022). Confinement effect on the viscoelastic particle ordering in microfluidic flows: Numerical simulations and experiments. Physics of Fluids, 34(4), 042015.
• Shahrivar, K., & Del Giudice, F. (2022). Beating Poisson stochastic particle encapsulation in flow-focusing microfluidic devices using viscoelastic liquids. Soft Matter, 18(32), 5928-5933.
• Del Giudice, F., & Barnes, C. (2022). Rapid temperature-dependent rheological measurements of non-newtonian solutions using a machine-learning aided microfluidic rheometer. Analytical Chemistry, 94(8), 3617-3628.
• Maisto, A., McDowall, D., Adams, D. J., & Del Giudice, F. (2022). Continuous Manufacturing of Microfluidic Fibers Embedded with Ordered Microparticles via Ionic Gelation. ACS Applied Engineering Materials, 1(1), 258-267.
• Morgan M.L., James D.J., Monloubou M., Olsen K.S. and Sandnes B. Subdiffusion model for granular discharge in a submerged silo. Phys. Rev. E 104, 044908 (2021).
• DJ Curtis & AR Davies, Volterra kernels, Oldroyd models, and interconversion in superposition rheometry. Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics 293 (2021) 104554

• MSc in Chemical Engineering

We are open to postgraduate supervision. Please contact the individual academic for more information.