Description:
Fluid mechanics enable the accurate and analytical characterization of complex fluids, their flow, and their properties. However, many of the measurement techniques utilized to measure the frequency-dependent coefficients of viscoelastic fluids involve the use of expensive measurement devices and time-consuming experimental set-ups. This technology proposes an inexpensive and relatively swift procedure whereby the necessary fluid properties (frequency-dependent coefficients) of complex, viscoelastic fluids can be determined.
Reference Number: D-1037
Market Applications:
The technology significantly reduces the costs associated with measuring viscoelastic properties of complex fluids.
- Industrial Applications (Product testing for various products such as paint, adhesives)
- Clinical Applications
- Microfluidics
- Academia and Research Laboratories
Features, Benefits & Advantages:
• Reduces the costs associated with the expensive equipment necessary to measure viscoelastic coefficients.
• The measuring procedure is simple to use and requires little training.
• Enables the quick analysis of the viscoelastic coefficients of biological samples, aiding in the diagnosis process.
• The reduction in cost of rheometers will enable its application in educational settings.
Intellectual Property:
U.S Provisional Patent Applications were filed 6/23/2017 and 8/8/2017. A PCT application was filed 6/22/2018, serial number PCT/US18/39108.
Development Stage:
This is an active research project. The fluid mechanical theory of the invention has been formulated and experiments are underway to develop a practical manifestation of the theory.
Researchers:
Sukalyan Bhattacharya, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Keywords: Viscoelastic coefficients, Capillary Flow, Capillary Flow Analysis