Susan Muller

Research Interests

Experimental non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, macromolecular dynamics, polymer rheology and processing, microfluidics

Research Summary

Understanding the behavior of fluids containing macromolecules is important in a range of applications, from processing of conventional, synthetic polymeric materials to the processing of large proteins and DNA in microfluidic devices. Under flow, the behavior of solutions of large molecules can differ dramatically from low molecular weight, Newtonian fluids: hydrodynamic instabilities, shear-induced de-mixing, and both drag reduction and drag enhancement have been associated with solution elasticity. We use experimental techniques that probe a range of length scales in order to both address design issues for polymer processing and microfluidic flows and to obtain a fundamental understanding of the physics involved in the flow of macromolecules.

Current research projects include:
Flow of Biological Macromolecules in Micro-Fluidic Devices
Genetic Engineering of Protein Polymers for Structure-Property Studies and Biomaterial Applications
Instabilities in Polymer Flows due to Viscoelasticity
The Behavior of Particles and Bubbles in Yield Stress Fluids

Selected Publications