Abstract

Abstract (limited to 800 words)

Fluid absorbed in a porous substrate has vast applications. A mathematical model based on the lubrication
approximation which defines the absorptive property of a substrate using a Darcys model is to be used. This
numerical model will be verified with the help of comparison between the analytical and numerical
solutions for the absorption of thin film on horizontal porous substrates. Results show that physical
properties of the substrates, i.e. permeability, porosity, capillary pressure and equilibrium contact angle
affect the rate of absorption of the fluid. Adding inclination to the problem, introduces the gravitational pull
in the absorption dynamics. Shear-thinning property of fluid also effects the absorption and this will be
prime focus of the research.

Keywords (limited to 5 keywords, separated by ;): Absorption, non-newtonian rheology, droplets

Research Plan

Your research plan at the host institution if the application is approved

Substrates are not always smooth and there might be heterogeneities on the
substrates. The effects of the topographic features on the speed of the
spreading/sliding droplets are important. A next step towards the development of
the numerical code will be to incorporate appropriate changes in the numerical
code to implement droplet spreading on topographically different substrates. The
concept of adding a variable to define the topographic features in the z-direction
has been used before in the simulations of thin films over topographical
heterogeneities. Moreover, the effect of chemical heterogeneities on the
spreading/sliding dynamics of fluid droplets could be explored as these have a
potential to radically alter the spreading dynamics.
Bloodstain formation on solid substrates relies upon the following physical
processes: wettability, drying/evaporation, viscous dissipation, and coagulation
(Attinger et al., 2013). Understanding the drying process is of prime importance
to the forensic investigators. It helps the investigators in reconstructing the
events and to determine/predict the time elapsed after the crime. It would be
insightful to study the effects of drying on the spreading dynamics. The drying
process has been extensively explored in the past. The choice of evaporation
model depends on solvent diffusivity. If the solvent diffuses rapidly, it is assumed
to be uniform across the fluid, well-mixed assumption.
Absorption of fluid droplets on fabrics is of prime importance to forensic
scientists. There still remains a lot to be done in the area of absorption of droplets
on porous substrates. Absorption in the vertical plane is investigated in detail.
The next step would be to see the effects of lateral absorption on the overall
absorption dynamics and the effects on the shape of the footprint. In this work,
the absorption of Newtonian fluid is explored. It would be beneficial for forensic
scientists to explore the absorption dynamics of non-Newtonian fluids because of
bloods shear-thinning property.