Nature is an exquisite designer of materials. Trees in the forest and soft tissues of our human body are such examples. They are all highly complex materials, and share the same design principle. Starting from a simple building unit, nature combines it into highly hierarchical structures, step by step, such as a chain of molecules, fibrils, and fibres, each of which are networked. Most importantly, these units are self-assembled, and a resulted structure is intricately designed to fulfill multi-functionalities. Not overdesigned, not underdesigned, and sustainable!
The heart of research in paper physics group is in unfolding this beautiful trick that nature uses, and in deploying it to redefine our current material design practices. The main focus of research is on fibre-based materials which typically take the form of fibre network. Our research interests are (1) stochastic failure of complex disordered structures, (2) micro- fluidics and mass transport phenomena in random porous networks, and (3) particle dynamics, self-assembling and surface evolution of nano- and micro- particles in coating.
All these topics are inspired by real problems and challenges in industrial applications, for example, in the development of 3D, multi-functional fibre networks for hygiene and structural composites, and liquid/gas barrier coating for fibre-based packaging and textiles.
Recent publications selected:
Wiklund, H.S. and T. Uesaka, Simulations of shearing of capillary bridges. J. Chemical Physics, 2012. 136(094703): p. 1-9.
Kulachenko, A. and T. Uesaka, Direct simulations of fibre network deformation and failure. J. Mechanics of Materials, 2012. 51(8): p. 1-14.
Holmvall, M., F. Drolet, T. Uesaka, and S. Lindström, Transfer of a Microfluid to a Stochastic Fibre Network. J. Fluids and Structures, 2011. 27(7): p. 937-946.
Dahlstrom, C., R. Allem, and T. Uesaka, New method for characterising paper coating structures using argon ion beam milling and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. J. Microscopy, 2010. 241(2): p. 179-187.
Edvardsson, S. and T. Uesaka, System dynamics of the open-draw with web adhesion: Particle approach. J. Applied Mechanics, 2010. 77(021009): p. 1-11.
Lindström, S. and T. Uesaka, A numerical investigation of the rheology of sheared fibre suspensions. Physics of Fluids, 2009. 21(083301): p. 1-18.
