Paper Number
GI8 My Program
Session
Gallery of Rheology - Images
Title
Predicting complex structure
Presentation Date and Time
October 22, 2025 (Wednesday) 6:30
Track / Room
Gallery of Rheology Session: Images / Sweeney Ballroom E+F
Authors
- Campbell, Robert (Northeastern University, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)
- Zhuang, Calvin (University of California, Irvine, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)
- Haghighi, Paniz (Northeastern University, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)
- Mohraz, Ali (University of California, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering)
- Jamali, Safa (Northeastern University, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)
Author and Affiliation Lines
Robert Campbell1, Calvin Zhuang2, Paniz Haghighi1, Ali Mohraz2 and Safa Jamali1
1Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115; 2Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
Speaker / Presenter
Campbell, Robert
Keywords
experimental methods; theoretical methods; computational methods; colloids; gels
Text of Abstract
Microstructure affects the rheology of many materials. In colloidal gels, we can predict structure from just three pieces of information, but this model has limits. It assumes that colloidal interactions are dominated by “central forces” – long range interactions like gravity and electromagnetism. Many real colloidal particles also experience “non-central forces” like friction. This composite image combines confocal images of real colloidal gels made with both high and low non-central forces. Each experiment is paired with a computer simulation that predicts the structure. The images are stitched together with generative AI to create a continuous gradient, showing how structure changes under both conditions as the total central forces become stronger. Building model systems like these is important for discovering new ways to design the structure and rheology of real products.