Journal of Solid Mechanics and Materials Engineering
Online ISSN : 1880-9871
ISSN-L : 1880-9871
Papers(Special Issue)
Polymer Effects on Turbulence in Flowing Soap Films Studied with Film Interference Flow Imaging Method
Ruri HIDEMAHideharu USHIKIHidemitsu FURUKAWA
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2011 Volume 5 Issue 12 Pages 838-848

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Abstract

Thin liquid layer exists between bone and bone in joint of human body, and also, thin tear film covers cornea. These thin liquid layers contain biopolymer such as hyaluronic acid and mucin. These thin liquids make it possible that smooth movement of the joints and smooth blinks. In this research, effects of polymer in thin liquid layer are studied by using flowing soap films. Soap films consist of about 4 µm thickness water layer inside and surfactant mono-layer in the surface. Interference patterns of the soap films are affected by the thickness of the water layer. Thus the interference pattern reflects the behavior of the water layer. In this study, turbulence was made in flowing soap films, the effects of long flexible polymer Polyethylene oxide (PEO, Mw=4x106) to the turbulence was observed by the interference pattern. This technique is proposed as Film Interference Flow Imaging method (FIFI). Thickness and velocity information of the turbulence were observed by FIFI. Inner structure of the soap solution containing PEO was observed by Scanning Microscopic Light Scattering (SMILS) which is a light scattering system specialized for analyzing microscopic structures. For some applications, investigations of the polymer effects in thin liquid layer are useful for the development of polymer drag for joint pain or dry eyes.

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© 2011 by The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
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