The Institute of
Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics (INNFM) is an organisation founded in Wales to
encourage collaborative research on the rheology of Non-Newtonian fluids. These are materials that,
when they flow, do not obey Newton’s
linear relationship between stress and rate of strain. Water, in laminar flow,
behaves as a Newtonian fluid, but most other fluids that one encounters have
non-Newtonian properties. Examples would include polymer solutions and melts
used in the manufacture of everyday ‘plastics’, foodstuffs, detergents, paints,
blood, cement, shampoo, toothpaste, lubricants, crude oil, etc, etc. The list
is endless. The relevance to industry is obvious and the characterisation of
such materials and their modelling vital in manufacturing processes.
The Institute provides a multidisciplinary environment for meeting the
challenge of modern rheological problems in industry. It brings together
expertise in experimental and theoretical rheology, including the latest
techniques for the characterisation of the mechanical behaviour of materials
through rheometrical measurement. In addition, extensive expertise is available
in the mathematical modelling of rheological flows, including complex
three-dimensional flows associated with industrial processes.
A key role of the Institute
is to bring together active researchers in the field through the organisation
of workshop conferences. The Institute also engages in various other activities
as set out later in this web site.
The Institute maintains a
close working relationship with the British Society of Rheology.
