Executive Summary : | This funded project aims to improve our understanding of the instability transition in viscoelastic jets, a crucial area of research in various fields. Liquid jets breakup into droplets due to Rayleigh-Plateau instability, which is characterized by absolute or convectively unstable disturbances. The project aims to develop tools to investigate flow-instability evolution, reveal the relationship between flow and material parameters, and enable long-term asymptotic prediction. The research will have significant impacts in fields like hydraulic fracturing, polymer blend processing, airlift bioreactors, medical imaging, and ultrasounds. The project will also integrate teaching and research with local classrooms and a broader audience. |