Tribology researcher wins EPRSC Fellowship to study bubbles

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Fluorescence of surface-active material on the edges of a thin liquid film

Fluorescence of surface-active material on the edges of a thin liquid film

Dr Li Shen (Tribology group) has been awarded a Post-Doctoral EPSRC Fellowship to investigate the dynamics and stability of bubbles.

Dr Shen explains the importance of the research and its focus: 

“On Earth, gravity drains a bubble film which causes it to eventually collapse. In other gravitational fields such as the ISS (International Space Station), or Mars, the bubble can often survive for far longer. So, how does gravity affect the dynamics and stability of a bubble? This is one of the fundamental questions which drives my current research, for which I am hugely honoured to be awarded the EPSRC Post-doctoral fellowship this year.

In modern day life, bubbles can be both a nuisance or a blessing depending on the context in which they arise. Unwanted bubbles in an engine lubricant can cause catastrophic failure in engines, particularly in high-performance engines such as those in electric vehicles. On the other hand, non-alcoholic beers aim to mimic the bubble formation of their alcoholic versions closely in order to replicate the taste, so the precise foaming characteristics are important to taste and texture of the beverage. Of course, in biophysical contexts, bubbles help to carry away bacteria when washing and the surface-active components that stabilises a bubble also actively kill the viruses which linger on a surface, a particular relevant topic in the recent year. 

Working with researchers from Imperial, Brunel, Magdeburg and Catalonia, I aim to focus on the atomistic-scale processes of a bubble film using molecular and continuum mechanics in order to gain insight into how a bubble collapses and the signs which signal that the rupture process has begun.

This is made possible with the long-term support of this fellowship, which will allow me to develop more fundamental insights into the bubble with my academic collaborators. And, partnering closely with researchers from Shell (through the University Technology Centre in Fuels and Lubricants), to use those fundamental insights create new foaming R&D optimisation processes.”

“Space Oddity” Drainage patterns on a bubble film
Drainage patterns on a bubble film

Reporter

Nadia Barbu

Nadia Barbu
Department of Mechanical Engineering