Transpiration through hydrogels
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
Abstract
Hydrogels are hydrophylic polymer networks that can absorb many times their own weight in water. A common example is the gel that is included in disposable nappies but types of hydrogel are also found in the stoma of leaves and in the xylem of trees. These latter examples are involved in the transport of water upwards through trees, so-called transpiration. The aim is to develop and solve mathematical models that incorporate and quantify the dynamics of hydrogels in situations in which water is passing through them. For example, water-saturated hydrogel with one surface exposed to unsaturated air and another surface immersed in water will cause water to pass through it. This flow is not driven by external pressures but by gradients in internally generated osmotic pressures.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Michael Worster (Primary Supervisor) | |
Joseph Webber (Student) |
Publications
Webber J
(2023)
A linear-elastic-nonlinear-swelling theory for hydrogels. Part 2. Displacement formulation
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Webber J
(2023)
A linear-elastic-nonlinear-swelling theory for hydrogels. Part 1. Modelling of super-absorbent gels
in Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Webber J
(2024)
Wrinkling instabilities of swelling hydrogels
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NE/S007164/1 | 01/10/2019 | 30/09/2027 | |||
2436164 | Studentship | NE/S007164/1 | 01/10/2020 | 31/03/2024 | Joseph Webber |