Jason Reese Chair of Multiscale Fluid Mechanics
University of Edinburgh & Durham University
Prof Halim Kusumaatmaja is the Jason Reese Chair of Multiscale Fluid Mechanics at the University of Edinburgh. He obtained his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Oxford, and he was previously a postdoctoral research fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and at the University of Cambridge. He was previously an assistant associate, and full professor at the Department of Physics, Durham University, and he now has a Visiting Professorship at Durham upon his move to the University of Edinburgh. He has a broad range of interests in the field of Fluid Mechanics, Soft Matter, and Biophysics.
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Liquid Infused Surfaces
Inspired by pitcher plants, a promising approach to create liquid repellent surfaces is to harness rough, textured, or porous surfaces impregnated by wetting lubricants. These are commonly termed as liquid-infused surfaces. On LIS, the lubricant is confined between the surface textures by capillary forces, and its presence can result in numerous advantageous surface properties, such as self-cleaning, enhanced heat transfer, anti-fouling, anti-icing, and low friction. Recent studies, however, have shown that gas microbubbles can be trapped beneath the lubricant, and these can have a significant effect on the properties of liquid-infused surfaces. In this project, we focus on understanding the slipperiness of liquid-infused surfaces, which is often quantified using the effective slip length as fluids move over the substrates. Harnessing lattice Boltzmann simulations, we will directly simulate the interfacial flows at play, capturing key effects such as complex geometries, multiple fluid phases and components (gas microbubbles, liquid lubricant, and working liquid), and the fluid interface deformation. This will provide a detailed understanding of the factors that govern fluid slip behaviour of lubricated surfaces, and in turn design principles for improved liquid-infused surfaces.
Summary of project results
Employing lattice Boltzmann simulations, we have studied fluid slip on lubricated surfaces in the presence of gas bubbles. Bede allows us to generate mechanistic insights into the factors that determine the effective slip length. The systematic simulation results are also key to develop and verify a predictive analytical model.
How has your research benefitted from using Bede?
We are able to develop and apply GPU lattice Boltzmann simulation method for studying interfacial flows in complex geometries. Lattice Boltzmann is highly suitable for GPU computing, and using Bede we have been able to generate results we will not be able to obtain others. Bede allows us to run larger simulations and better explore the parameter space of interest. These undoubtedly lead to better science. Moreover, access to Bede provides opportunities for my group members to develop stronger GPU computing skills.