Analysis of adhesion and viscous peeling in fluid-structure interactions

Diverse fluid-structure interaction problems in materials science, micro-engineering and biotechnology involve the peeling of an elastic body away from a substrate in the presence of a viscous fluid, or the progressive adhesion of such a body to another while expelling intervening fluid. Examples include blistering, delamination and cell adhesion. Recent analysis (Peng & Lister, J. Fluid Mech, 2020) has uncovered a host of different dynamical regimes for spread on a horizontal surface under an elastic sheet. This project will apply that understanding, along with theoretical, numerical and asymptotic methods, to obtain solutions to novel problems in which buoyancy and adhesion by capillary or van der Waals forces play a role. Possible problems to be addressed include: To develop asymptotic solutions for rivulet flow down an incline under an elastic sheet. To investigate the role of finite lateral lengthscale for the cases of cylindrical, elliptical and ribbon-like bodies. To develop solutions for a flexible body falling away from a wall, or dynamics capillary clumping of wet fibres. Where possible, our solutions will be compared with laboratory experiments.