Descrizione del progetto
Materiali «ostinati» cedono all’impulso di giovani ricercatori entusiasti
La maggior parte di noi non considera fluidi materiali come il dentifricio, la maionese, il cemento e il fango. Tuttavia, nell’universo della scienza dei materiali, questi vengono denominati «fluidi ad alto limite elastico», ovvero, essi «scorrono» solo nel caso in cui si eserciti uno sforzo di taglio di sufficiente portata che li obbliga a cedere e a muoversi piuttosto che semplicemente deformarsi in modo elastico. La comprensione dei fluidi ad alto limite elastico si rivela fondamentale in settori tradizionali, come in quello della trasformazione alimentare e dell’edilizia e sta crescendo nell’ambito delle nuove tecnologie, quale la stampa 3D. Tuttavia, nonostante la loro onnipresenza e rilevanza, le attuali teorie che ne descrivono le caratteristiche di flusso valgono solo in condizioni molto basilari e il loro studio sperimentale risulta ancora piuttosto impegnativo. Il progetto YIELDGAP sta istituendo una rete di formazione innovativa che congiunge esperti del mondo accademico e del settore industriale a giovani e brillanti ricercatori per la promozione di modelli e metodi sperimentali nel campo dei fluidi ad alto limite elastico.
Obiettivo
Industries based on yield-stress fluids are rapidly expanding in Europe, including key traditional sectors (food, building,
paper) and key emerging technologies (advanced materials, advanced manufacturing). The European Parliament has called
for investment on these sectors, but so far complex fluid processes in these industries are far from understood, as the
research
has generally been small scale and/or technologically flawed. In particular: the poor understanding of yield-stress
fluid rheology and linking of the measured parameters to the yield properties and insufficient models, means that
applications are designed without the understanding of even the basic flow properties (no-flow zones, pressure needed to
initiate flow), which introduces uncertainties and errors; there is a serious shortage of research trained professionals who
combine expertise on complex fluid research, technology and industrial needs. In conjunction with ESR the largest network
in Europe in rheology, this ITN will: develop a European multi-disciplinary, intersectoral educational research framework for
Europe, to comprehensively train 12 early stage researchers (ESRs) to PhD level; provide the research evidence to show
how modern measurement and modelling methods may improve the cost- and resource-efficiency of industrial processes;
provide the European workforce with a much needed new generation of excellent research trained professionals. The
scientific objectives of YIELDGAP covered by the 4 research workpackages are to: establish advanced and highly improved
numerical modelling tools of complex fluids including additives; validate models by lab and field measurements; integrate
measured fluid properties with model parameters; build and disseminate best practices for industry and academia. Using
advanced methods where the YIELDGAP partners are world leading, the work of this ITN will culminate in international
consensus guidelines for yield-stress fluid flow measurement and prediction.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinatore
100 44 Stockholm
Svezia