Complex Fluids

Many biological and engineered fluids exhibit complex flow behavior in response to simple external stresses. This complexity can arise from polymers, liquid crystals, fibers, or particulates embedded within a liquid, which give the fluid additional nanoscale structure. We study how this nanostructure gives rise to intriguing flow behaviors, nonlinear stress-responses, and active dynamics.

We study the rheology of a range of nanostructured fluids, including emulsions, microcapsules,  hydrogels, nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and liquid crystals. We also study how these flow responses can be altered under nonequilibrium driving, for example, during the process of liquid liquid phase separation. By combining rheology, microscopy, nanostructural material characterization, and theoretical modeling, we aim to connect microscale mechanics to macroscale behavior.