Lattice Boltzmann simulations of the time evolution of living multicellular systems.

Embryonic tissues and multicellular aggregates of adult cells mimic the behavior of highly viscous liquids. The liquid analogy helps to understand morphogenetic phenomena, such as cell sorting and tissue fusion, observed in developmental biology and tissue engineering. Tissue fusion is vital in tissue printing, an emergent technique based on computer-controlled deposition of tissue fragments and biocompatible materials.

The influence of particle clustering on the rheological properties of highly concentrated magnetic nanofluids.

In this paper the particle volume fraction and temperature dependence of the dynamic viscosity of highly concentrated transformer oil based magnetic nanofluids was investigated in the absence of an external magnetic field. The solid particle volume fraction dependence of the relative viscosity was found to be very well fitted by the Krieger-Dougherty formula, whence the mean ellipticity of the colloidal particles and the effective surfactant layer thickness were obtained. Using the information on the particles' size and shape statistics obtained from TEM, DLS and magnetogranulometry investigations, it was concluded that the magnetite nanoparticles agglomerate in small clusters of about 1.

Lattice Boltzmann approach to thermal transpiration.

Diffuse reflection boundary conditions are introduced in a thermal lattice Boltzmann model to allow for variable fluid density and temperature along the walls. The capability of this model to capture the main characteristics of the thermal transpiration phenomenon in a box at nonvanishing Knudsen numbers is demonstrated. The thermal creep velocity is found to be proportional to the temperature gradient imposed at the wall, whereas the accuracy of the simulation results are found to be of first or second order, depending on the numerical scheme.

Diffuse-reflection boundary conditions for a thermal lattice Boltzmann model in two dimensions: evidence of temperature jump and slip velocity in microchannels.

We discuss the implementation of diffuse reflection boundary conditions in a thermal lattice Boltzmann model for which the upwind finite difference scheme is used to solve the set of evolution equations recovered after discretization of the velocity space. Simulation of heat transport between two parallel walls at rest shows evidence of temperature jumps at the walls that increase with Knudsen number. When the walls move in opposite directions with speeds +/- u(W), fluid velocity slip is observed at the walls, together with temperature jumps.

Physical Properties of Magnetic Fluids and Nanoparticles from Magnetic and Magneto-rheological Measurements.

Static magnetization curves and the magnetorheological effect were used to study the microstructural properties (agglomerate formation) of magnetic fluids and the properties of dispersed nanoparticles. Improved techniques for magnetogranulometry analysis and a formula for the magnetoviscous effect were proposed. The area of applicability of some existing models was studied.