Applied Math Seminar — Amy Buchmann (University of San Diego)

Title: Mixing and Pumping on the Microscale

Abstract:

Mixing and pumping in microfluidics devices is difficult because the traditional methods of mixing and pumping at large length scales don’t work at small length scales. Experimental work has suggested that rotating helical flagella may be used to effectively mix and pump fluid in microfluidics devices. To further explore this idea and to characterize the flow features around rotating helices, we study the hydrodynamic interactions between two rigid helices rotating at a constant velocity. Next, we optimize the numeric methods to study larger bacterial carpets.