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| MECA0008-1 | Microfluidics
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| Duration : | 30h Th, 30h Pr |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Tristan Gilet |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| English language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the first semester, review in January |
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Course contents :
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| This course is an introduction to small-scale flows and the burgeoning field of microfluidics.
Course content: Diffusion, microfabrication, Stokes flow, lubrication, electro-hydrodynamics, flow control, mixing, separation techniques, heat transfer and PCR, detection methods, surface tension, electrowetting and digital microfluidics, droplet-based microfluidics, low Reynolds number locomotion, biomimicry. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| At the end of this course, the student will have a good overview of microfluidics. He/She will get a good intuition of microscale flows. He/She will be able to use the strong theoretical bases for developing applications (incl. the design of microfluidic components).
Thanks to the case studies (group work), he/she will benefit from the background and potential of other students.
In the course project, he/she will develop critical thinking and creativity. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Pre-requisites: Elementary physics, mechanics and chemistry(e.g. PHYS2020, PHYS2021, PHYS2022, CHIM0603, MECA0001, MECA0011, SYST0002) |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| The course is organized according to the 30+30 scheme (30h theory + 30h practice).
Theory and applications are covered in 12 lectures (2h each). In addition, there will be an afternoon dedicated to the visit of microfabrication facilities around the University of Liege.
Seven recitations (2h each) will be given over the semester. Small groups of students will work together at solving case studies. For each recitation, a written report (individual) will be required (and graded).
Three lab sessions (2h each) will be organized, during which the student will design, build and test a microfluidic device made by soft-lithography.
Finally, each student will have to work on a small course project (individual). The project will be presented in class at the end of the semester. The student can choose the topics in a list, or bring his/her own idea (to be approved then by the professor). The professor will always give a starting point to the project (e.g. by providing a recent publication on the topic). |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| Face-to-face |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| The course is not based on a unique textbook. It is more a synthesis of many textbooks and recent publications.
At the end of each class, several reading suggestions will be given. |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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- 7 case studies + one lab session: Written report (individual) for each of them, due the next class. Weight: 8x5% = 40%
- Course project: Presented to the class on the last day (this year, December 19th, 2012). Weight: 30%
- Oral exam (january/september) mostly on theory. Weight: 30%. If a grade lower than 12/20 is obtained for the item "Case studies + lab", it is possible to retake 25% out of the 40% (so 5/8 of the initial grade) by solving an additional problem during the exam. The remaining 15% will be kept from the initial grade.
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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| The course is given in the fall, on Wednesday from 2pm to 6pm, in room +2/441 (B52).
An electronic version of the course notes and slides will be available on the website "MyULg" (ULg student identification required). |
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Contacts :
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| Tristan Gilet
Assistant professor
Office: B52 - 0/423
Tel: +32 (0) 4 366 9166
Email: Tristan.Gilet@ulg.ac.be
Julien Lemaire
Teaching assistant
Office: B52 - 0/424
Tel: +32 (0) 4 366 9274
Email: Julien.Lemaire@ulg.ac.be |
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