CISM • International Centre for Mechanical Sciences

CISM-JMBC Course on Complex Flows and Complex Fluids

Joint Advanced Schools

Fluids and fluid flows are everywhere and are key to a vast number of scientific problems and industrial applications. Fluid flows can display extremely different behavior depending on the length- and time-scale of observation, on the internal fluid structure, on the flow geometry and on the presence of (external) forces.

With the present course we will offer to PhD students and to young researchers the possibility to have a rather complete overview of the different type of behavior that fluids can exhibit under different flowing conditions. The course will cover from the dynamics of complex fluids to the statistical description of complex flows. In particular, the course will address the physics of yield stress materials, the rheology of dense fluid suspensions, the physics of laminar and turbulent flows, the (turbulent) transport of heat and mass. Lectures will present the phenomenology, the theoretical framework and where appropriate they will illustrate numerical and experimental approaches.

The organization of the course will combine the expertise of both JBMC and CISM and will address both the Dutch scientific community working on fluid mechanics as well as the international community (CISM).

Roberto Benzi (University of Tor Vergata , Rome, Italy)

6 lectures on: fluid dynamics turbulence.
The laminar-turbulent transition, fully developed turbulence, from Kolmogorov 1941 to multifractals; 2d vs. 3d turbulence, turbulent passive scalar. Eulerian vs. Lagrangian turbulence.


Herman Clercx (TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

6 lectures on: thermally driven flows.
Physics of thermally driven turbulence flows, instability, Rayleigh-Bénard and Rayleigh-Taylor model systems. The GL theory for Rayleigh-Bénard and Taylor-Couette systems and Rotating turbulent convection.


Elisabeth Guazzelli (Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, Université de Paris, France)

6 lectures on: heology of dense particulate systems.
Classical rheology of suspensions, rheology of dense suspension and the jamming transition, rheology of suspension in complex fluids and shear thickening.


Peter Schall (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

4 lectures on: soft glassy flows.
Soft glassy rheology; microscopic picture; avalanches and non-equilibrium transitions in dense flows; models of soft glassy rheology; non-local rheology; foams; open questions.


Jacco Snoeijer (University of Twente, The Netherlands)

6 lectures on: the physics of wetting and capillarity flows.
Wetting, capillary flows, lubrication, Stokes flow and elasticity discussed in terms of e.g. similarity solutions, matched asymptotics (with applications in capillary flows, droplet coalescence, etc.).


Federico Toschi (TU Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

6 lectures on: from point-wise to complex particles turbulence.
Models for particles and bubble dynamics, preferential concentration, small-scale clustering and fractal dimensions; non-spherical particles; numerical techniques; open questions.


None (University of Twente, The Netherlands)

6 lectures on: thermally driven flows.
Physics of thermally driven turbulence flows, instability, Rayleigh-Bénard and Rayleigh-Taylor model systems. The GL theory for Rayleigh-Bénard and Taylor-Couette systems.


The registration fee is 450.00 Euro + VAT taxes*, where applicable (bank charges are not included). The registration fee includes a complimentary bag, four fixed menu buffet lunches (on Friday upon request), hot beverages, downloadable lecture notes and wi-fi internet access.

JMBC participants should contact JMBC before proceeding with registration.

Applicants must apply at least one month before the beginning of the course. Application forms should be sent on-line through our web site: http://www.cism.it. A message of confirmation will be sent to accepted participants. If you need assistance for registration please contact our secretariat.

Applicants may cancel their course registration and receive a full refund by notifying CISM Secretariat in writing (by email) no later than two weeks prior to the start of the course.

If cancellation occurs less than two weeks prior to the start of the course, a Euro 50.00 handling fee will be charged. Incorrect payments are subject to Euro 50.00 handling fee.

Information about travel and accommodation is available on our web site, or can be mailed upon request.



* Italian VAT is 22%.