Richard J. Braun

Bio: Richard J. Braun is an academic researcher from University of Delaware. The author has contributed to research in topics: Lubrication theory & Breakup. The author has an hindex of 28, co-authored 96 publications receiving 3248 citations. Previous affiliations of Richard J. Braun include University of Minnesota & University of Southampton.

Thermodynamically-consistent phase-field models for solidification

Abstract: In an effort to unify the various phase-field models that have been used to study solidification, we have developed a class of phase-field models for crystallization of a pure substance from its melt. These models are based on an entropy functional, as in the treatment of Penrose and Fife, and are therefore thermodynamically consistent inasmuch as they guarantee spatially local positive entropy production. General conditions are developed to ensure that the phase field takes on constant values in the bulk phases. Specific forms of a phase-field function are chosen to produce two models that bear strong resemblances to the models proposed by Langer and Kobayashi. Our models contain additional nonlinear functions of the phase field that are necessary to guarantee thermodynamic consistency.

Phase-field models for anisotropic interfaces.

Abstract: The inclusion of anisotropic surface free energy and anisotropic linear interface kinetics in phase-field models is studied for the solidification of a pure material. The formulation is described for a two-dimensional system with a smooth crystal-melt interface and for a surface free energy that varies smoothly with orientation, in which case a quite general dependence of the surface free energy and kinetic coefficient on orientation can be treated; it is assumed that the anisotropy is mild enough that missing orientations do not occur. The method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to recover the appropriate anisotropic form of the Gibbs-Thomson equation in the sharp-interface limit in which the width of the diffuse interface is thin compared to its local radius of curvature. It is found that the surface free energy and the thickness of the diffuse interface have the same anisotropy, whereas the kinetic coefficient has an anisotropy characterized by the product of the interface thickness with the intrinsic mobility of the phase field.

Dynamics of the Tear Film

Abstract: This review discusses the current understanding of tear-film physiology and mathematical models for some of its dynamics. First, a brief introduction to the tear film and the ocular surface is given. Next, mathematical models for the tear film are discussed, with an emphasis on models that describe the formation and relaxation of the tear film from blinking. Finally, future issues in tear film modeling are presented.

Contributions of evaporation and other mechanisms to tear film thinning and break-up.

Abstract: Purpose.To evaluate the contribution of three mechanisms—evaporation of the tear film, inward flow of water into the corneal epithelium or contact lens, and “tangential flow” along the surface of epithelium or contact lens—to the thinning of the tear film between blinks and to tear film brea

Principles Of Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract: Thank you very much for downloading principles of fluorescence spectroscopy. As you may know, people have look hundreds times for their favorite novels like this principles of fluorescence spectroscopy, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they cope with some harmful bugs inside their desktop computer. principles of fluorescence spectroscopy is available in our digital library an online access to it is set as public so you can download it instantly. Our digital library spans in multiple locations, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Kindly say, the principles of fluorescence spectroscopy is universally compatible with any devices to read.

Long-scale evolution of thin liquid films

Abstract: Macroscopic thin liquid films are entities that are important in biophysics, physics, and engineering, as well as in natural settings. They can be composed of common liquids such as water or oil, rheologically complex materials such as polymers solutions or melts, or complex mixtures of phases or components. When the films are subjected to the action of various mechanical, thermal, or structural factors, they display interesting dynamic phenomena such as wave propagation, wave steepening, and development of chaotic responses. Such films can display rupture phenomena creating holes, spreading of fronts, and the development of fingers. In this review a unified mathematical theory is presented that takes advantage of the disparity of the length scales and is based on the asymptotic procedure of reduction of the full set of governing equations and boundary conditions to a simplified, highly nonlinear, evolution equation or to a set of equations. As a result of this long-wave theory, a mathematical system is obtained that does not have the mathematical complexity of the original free-boundary problem but does preserve many of the important features of its physics. The basics of the long-wave theory are explained. If, in addition, the Reynolds number of the flow is not too large, the analogy with Reynolds's theory of lubrication can be drawn. A general nonlinear evolution equation or equations are then derived and various particular cases are considered. Each case contains a discussion of the linear stability properties of the base-state solutions and of the nonlinear spatiotemporal evolution of the interface (and other scalar variables, such as temperature or solute concentration). The cases reducing to a single highly nonlinear evolution equation are first examined. These include: (a) films with constant interfacial shear stress and constant surface tension, (b) films with constant surface tension and gravity only, (c) films with van der Waals (long-range molecular) forces and constant surface tension only, (d) films with thermocapillarity, surface tension, and body force only, (e) films with temperature-dependent physical properties, (f) evaporating/condensing films, (g) films on a thick substrate, (h) films on a horizontal cylinder, and (i) films on a rotating disc. The dynamics of the films with a spatial dependence of the base-state solution are then studied. These include the examples of nonuniform temperature or heat flux at liquid-solid boundaries. Problems which reduce to a set of nonlinear evolution equations are considered next. Those include (a) the dynamics of free liquid films, (b) bounded films with interfacial viscosity, and (c) dynamics of soluble and insoluble surfactants in bounded and free films. The spreading of drops on a solid surface and moving contact lines, including effects of heat and mass transport and van der Waals attractions, are then addressed. Several related topics such as falling films and sheets and Hele-Shaw flows are also briefly discussed. The results discussed give motivation for the development of careful experiments which can be used to test the theories and exhibit new phenomena.

Phase-Field Models for Microstructure Evolution

Abstract: ■ Abstract The phase-field method has recently emerged as a powerful computational approach to modeling and predicting mesoscale morphological and microstructure evolution in materials. It describes a microstructure using a set of conserved and nonconserved field variables that are continuous across the interfacial regions. The temporal and spatial evolution of the field variables is governed by the Cahn-Hilliard nonlinear diffusion equation and the Allen-Cahn relaxation equation. With the fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic information as the input, the phase-field method is able to predict the evolution of arbitrary morphologies and complex microstructures without explicitly tracking the positions of interfaces. This paper briefly reviews the recent advances in developing phase-field models for various materials processes including solidification, solid-state structural phase transformations, grain growth and coarsening, domain evolution in thin films, pattern formation on surfaces, dislocation microstructures, crack propagation, and electromigration.

Diffuse-interface methods in fluid mechanics

Abstract: We review the development of diffuse-interface models of hydrodynamics and their application to a wide variety of interfacial phenomena. These models have been applied successfully to situations in which the physical phenomena of interest have a length scale commensurate with the thickness of the interfacial region (e.g. near-critical interfacial phenomena or small-scale flows such as those occurring near contact lines) and fluid flows involving large interface deformations and/or topological changes (e.g. breakup and coalescence events associated with fluid jets, droplets, and large-deformation waves). We discuss the issues involved in formulating diffuse-interface models for single-component and binary fluids. Recent applications and computations using these models are discussed in each case. Further, we address issues including sharp-interface analyses that relate these models to the classical free-boundary problem, computational approaches to describe interfacial phenomena, and models of fully miscible fluids.