Carole-Ann Charles

Institution:
CNRS Montpellier

 

Supervisors:
Christian Ligoure
Laurence Ramos

 

Field of expertise:
PhD subject:
Elastocapillary effects in double dynamic networks

Soft materials, due to their lower elasticity, unfold new physical phenomena at short length scales when their surface elasticity becomes comparable to their bulk elastic ones, giving rise to elasto-capillary effects.

My work is to study these elasto-capillary effects on the dynamic of mechanical deformations by impacting droplets on a repulsive surface, allowing one to reduce shear dissipation during the droplet expansion. The investigated systems are Maxwell fluids of low elastic moduli and various relaxation times giving access to a large range of Deborah numbers with respect to the time of the experiment. Interestingly enough, this particular situation was never examined before and allows one to approach the transition between a regime dominated by the bulk elasticity and a regime at which the surface tension prevails.

We measure the maximal expansion of the droplets and evidence, for sample with a characteristic time comparable to the experimental time, an enhanced expansion as compared to solid and liquid samples and to transient networks with much shorter or much longer characteristic time, thus highlighting the role of viscoelasticity in elasto-capillarity.

Subsequently, double dynamic networks will be studied as a function of the lifetime and elastic modulus of the networks constituting the latter. Following the same approach as for Maxwell fluids, we will try to understand and rationalize the impact of the double dynamic on the elasto-capillary effect in said networks as well as relating these effects to the nonlinear response in shear or other flows of the double dynamic networks and to the adhesive properties.

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Languages
  • French: Native language
  • English: Fluent
  • Dutch: Elementary proficiency
Computer skills
  • Languages: Java, Oz
  • Tools: Word, Excel, Power Point, Latex, Matlab, ImageJ, OriginPro, 123D Design, Makerbot, Netfabb, HSC, Edupack
Scientific and technical skills
  • Rheology
  • Optical microscopy
  • 3D printing
  • Spinning and pendant drop tensiometry

Curriculum Vitae

Employment history

CNRS and Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

PhD student
PhD thesis Subject: Elasto-capillarity in double dynamic networks
Supervisors: Prof. Christian Ligoure and Dr. Laurence Ramos

2018 - to date

  • Management of a research project from literature study to result interpretation
  • Design and validation of a set-up allowing the study of biextensional deformation of soft elastic beads, Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids at very high rates by drop impact experiment in inverse Leidenfrost conditions
  • Planning and realisation of experiments to investigate the behaviour of transient and double dynamic networks. Main techniques include rheology, drop impact experiments in inverse Leidenfrost conditions and spinning drop tensiometry
  • Mentoring a first year MSc student in physics during his internship
    as part of the Innovative Training Network - Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska – Curie, DoDyNet
Second year MSc student

2016 - 2017
MSc thesis subject: Dynamics of linear supramolecular polymer chains in solution
Supervisor: Prof. Evelyne Van Ruymbeke

Study of the dynamics of associative copolymers in solution and the effects of polymer concentration, ligand density, metal ion concentration and temperature on the viscoelastic properties of the material

Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium

First year MSc student

2015 - 2016
Project: Design of a duck leg prosthesis using a 3D printer. Selection and analysis of the appropriate materials
Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium

Education

CNRS and Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France

PhD thesis in physics
as part of the Innovative Training Network - Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska – Curie, DoDyNet
2018 - to date

Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium

Master degree in chemical and material science engineering, specializations in polymers and macro-molecules
Rheology, rheometry and polymer processing, polymer chemistry and physico-chemistry, molecules and materials analysis, macromolecular nanotechnology, polymer science project, polymer science and engineering

2015 - 2017

Ecole Polytechnique de Louvain, Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium

Bachelor in engineering science
Major in applied chemistry and physics, minor in mechanics

2010 - 2015

Cibola High School, Yuma, Arizona, United States of America

Rotary Youth Exchange program
2009 - 2010

Communauté Scolaire Sainte Marie, Namur, Belgium

2003 - 2009

Secondary school certificate

Options in mathematics, sciences, Latin and Dutch

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