Mahesh Ganesan

Aggregating particles form a remarkable fractal like network that exhibits a solid like rheology. Using a combination of particle synthesis, rheology, light scattering, formulation techniques and simple monte carlo simulations, we seek to discover modes for tuning the linear and non-linear elastic rheology of these materials.

Wet foams - of the type that we encounter during using handsoap and shampoos - and conventional foods - such as flour dough based flatbreads - and commercial hydrogels - such as dental fillings and wound dressings - as well as our day to day soaps - are all heavily formulated soft materials. In all these materials, the rich interplay between intermolecular forces, self-assembly, microstructure and rheology govern the final product's performance attributes such as foam stability, taste and toughness. We seek to develop combinatorial methods to study these complex, yet extremely prevalent complex materials using fundamental science.

Polymeric materials show rich rheological profiles, which often require complex functional forms for modeling. We explore fractional calculus derived constitutive models as low-dimensional alternatives with the overarching goal to develop simple frameworks to predict viscoelastic properties of polymer solutions and melts at arbitrary conditions.

Sticky polymers can interestingly damp vibrational amplitudes in substrates. We aim to develop rheological guidelines for producing polymers that can achieve target damping performances. We are also developing a deployable software that engineers can use to design adhesives with desired damping attributes.