Abstract:

The presence of drops and bubbles in turbulent flows is governed by their interfaces, thin transition layers that bridge the molecular scale and macroscopic phenomena. These interfaces play a crucial role in numerous environmental and industrial processes, as momentum, heat, and mass transfer occur across them. A key example is the daily CO2 exchange between the ocean and atmosphere, which is strongly influenced by the size distribution of bubbles and drops, the interfacial transfer coefficients, and the flow dynamics within these phases. This talk provides a historical overview of the problem, accompanied by a brief review of current modeling and computational approaches designed to track interfaces and a description of the currently available experimental methods. We will specifically highlight the phase-field method and emerging 3D experimental reconstruction techniques, showcasing flow scenarios where thermophysical parameters are varied. Additionally, we will examine the complex interaction between interfaces and turbulence, with particular attention to the role of surfactants.

Introduction of speaker:

Alfredo Soldati is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at TU Wien and a part-time professor at the University of Udine, Italy. His research focuses on the physics and engineering of multiphase flows. He earned an M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering (1989) and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (1993) from the University of Pisa, with research and postdoctoral training at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1991 to 1995. Professor Soldati has received numerous honors, including the ASME Robert Knapp Award (2007), the ASME Lewis Moody Award (2015), and the International Prize and Gold Medal Panetti–Ferrari from the Accademia delle Scienze in Torino (2018). He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society (elected 2013) and of EUROMECH (elected 2020). In 2020, he was also recognized as an ASME Freeman Scholar. He currently serves as the Rector of the International Center for Mechanical Sciences (CISM) and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Multiphase Flow. He is also a Co-President of the ICTAM 2028 conference, to be held in Vienna, Austria.

审核：刘有晟、游小清