PRISM at Discovery Park

 Abstract: 
This talk focuses on our group’s recent research on molecular dynamics simulations of gas flows in nano-scale confined geometries, and interface thermal resistance between simple liquids and solids. Gas flow research demonstrates the importance of wall force field effects that penetrate approximately 1 nm from each surface. Gas density, viscous and normal stress distributions and the velocity profiles within this region show deviations from the Boltzmann equation solutions. Presence of this near wall sub-layer indicates the breakdown of similitude between the rarefied and nano-scale confined gas flows, solely based on the Knudsen number. In addition, MD simulations performed in a wide Knudsen range enable prediction of the Tangential Momentum Accommodation Coefficient for argon gas in contact with FCC surfaces.