Rheology of Complex Fluids

In this course you will learn about "complex" fluids and how they deform and flow.

Complex fluids are systems whose deformation and flow differs from "simple" fluids like water, and "simple" solids like rubber. Examples include suspensions, pastes, slurries, foams, emulsions, glasses, granular media, polymer melts, gels, and fibrous networks.

You will learn how to collect and analyze data from complex fluids using commercially available methods. You will also learn to identify and model characteristic features of these flows, including shear thinning, yielding, and thixotropy.

Course content will be illustrated with applications drawn from mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and (bio)physics.