Complex Fluids · LTeN · CNRS

Teodor (Teo) Burghelea

Directeur de Recherche CNRS (Dr. Habil.) · Laboratoire de Thermique et Énergie de Nantes (LTeN, UMR 6607), Nantes Université

We study how heat, mass and momentum are transported in complex fluids: polymer solutions and melts, yield-stress materials, physical gels and suspensions of micro-algae. Our work combines table-top and microfluidic experiments, rheometry, simple physical models and numerical simulation. Current topics include elastic turbulence, chaotic mixing, and the yielding of elasto-viscoplastic materials.

Teo Burghelea in the laboratory next to a laser optical set-up
Active chaotic mixing of two fluid streams in a channel with rotating arc-walls (simulation).
Droplet dynamics in a complex fluid (experiment).
Chaotic mixing of a viscoelastic fluid in a cellular flow, Wi = 20 (simulation).

News

  • Teo hosts Prof. Alidad Amirfazli (York University, Toronto) for two weeks, from 7 to 19 July. Prof. Amirfazli introduces us to applications of AI in the study of complex fluids. Two weeks of intensive and fruitful interactions!

  • Teo visits the University of Cyprus (Department of Mathematics and School of Engineering), hosted by Prof. Georgios Georgiou. The goals: study the propagation of yield surfaces in elasto-viscoplastic materials, and set up a joint ERASMUS agreement with the University of Cyprus.

  • Teo co-organised the advanced course “Fluid mixing: fundamentals and practices” at CISM (Udine, Italy). A distinguished panel of lecturers and around 40 participants from 14 countries made it a very exciting week on fluid mixing and its applications.

  • Teo attended the AERC meeting in Lyon (13–18 April). A nice meeting, and a nice gala dinner with an exquisite show and many prizes awarded among friends.

  • We welcome Masaya Hashimoto, who joins the team as a PhD student working on fuel extraction from the micro-alga Botryococcus braunii, co-advised by Teo, Agnès Montillet, Jérôme Bellettre and Jérémy Pruvost. Welcome aboard, Masaya!

  • Teo co-organised a one-day scientific meeting on Complex Fluids and Complex Flows in Lille (15 November). Thanks to the local organisers, Francesco Romano and Stefano Berti, and to all participants!

  • LTeN laboratory retreat in Pornic (3–4 October).

  • Prof. Volfango Bertola (University of Liverpool) visits the group. Teo and Volfango have a lot of fun learning how toothpaste drips through a thin needle.