Fluid–structure interactions in active complex fluids

To be held at CEME 2202 and on Zoom: https://ubc.zoom.us/j/68285564037?pwd=R2ZpLy9uc2pUYldHT3laK3orakg0dz09
Meeting ID: 682 8556 4037
Passcode: 636252

Refreshments served at 3:00 pm

Fluid anisotropy is central to many biological systems, from rod-like bacteria that self-assemble into dense swarms that behave as fluids, to the cell cytoskeleton, where the active alignment of stiff biofilaments is crucial in processes like cell division. Nematic liquid crystals provide a powerful model for studying these complex environments. When large bodies are immersed, these fluids are elastically frustrated, leading to intricate interactions. This frustration can be alleviated through body deformations, at the cost of introducing internal stresses. Additionally, active stresses, arising from particle motility or molecular activity, generate flows that disrupt nematic order. In this presentation, I will demonstrate how complex variables enable analytical solutions to a broad range of problems. I will offer key insights into how body geometry, anchoring conditions, interaction dynamics, activity-induced flows, and body deformations influence nematic fluids in biological settings.