Sculpting with flow: Mudballs, meteorites, candy landscapes

Dates
Thu, Feb 06, 2020 - 02:00 PM — Thu, Feb 06, 2020 - 03:00 PM
Event Address
Steinman Hall, 275 Convent Ave, NY 10031
Event Location
ST-254
Event Details

SEMINAR

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Sculpting with flow: Mudballs, meteorites, candy landscapes

Prof. Leif Ristroph 

Department of Mathematics 
NYU, Courant Institute, Applied Math Lab

Abstract

In recent years in the NYU-Courant Applied Math Lab, we've ventured into the field of geomorphology, which seeks to describe the changing face of the Earth, its structures, landforms and landscapes. In such problems, solids are reshaped by processes such as erosion/deposition, dissolution/solidi cation and melting/freezing and flows are inevitably present. I will discuss a few case studies, starting with how an erodible body is robustly reshaped by flow into a peculiar shape. I will also point out an unexpected connection to the flight of meteoroids, which are carved into unique shapes by ablation during atmospheric flight. Lastly, I'll mention some very recent work on dissolving boundaries and how the flows naturally present during dissolution tend to carve otherworldly "landscapes" out of candy.

Biography

Over the last six years, I've been professor of mathematics at NYU and the Courant Institute, where I lead the experimental effort in the Applied Math Lab (AML). Prior I was also at the AML as an NSF postdoctoral researcher working with Jun Zhang, Mike Shelley and Steve Childress. I received my PhD in physics from Cornell University, where I studied the aerodynamics of insect flight under Itai Cohen and Jane Wang. And my Bachelor's studies were in physics at the University of Texas at Austin, where I worked with Harry Swinney on fluid-fluid interfacial instabilities.

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