Microhydrodynamics

By Prof. Anubhab Roy | IIT Madras

Learners enrolled: 144 | Exam registration: 10

ABOUT THE COURSE:

Microhydrodynamics explores fluid flow processes at the micron scale, where the behavior of fluids becomes dominated by viscous effects. These low Reynolds number flows play a crucial role in a variety of industrial, biophysical, and natural phenomena. This course will delve into the fundamentals of low Reynolds number flows and suspension dynamics. Students will learn the physics behind highly viscous flows, examine exact solutions for single-particle dynamics, and analyze the effects of particle shape anisotropy. We will also explore the role of hydrodynamic interactions and ultimately investigate how particle microstructure influences bulk suspension viscosity.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Applied Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Atmospheric and Ocean Engineering, Physics

PREREQUISITES: An introductory course in Fluid Mechanics

Summary

Course Status :	Ongoing
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Mechanical Engineering Computational Thermo Fluids
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	19 Jan 2026
End Date :	10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends :	02 Feb 2026
Exam Registration Ends :	20 Feb 2026
Exam Date :	17 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Introduction to viscous flows – Stokes’ approximation, Linearity, reversibility, reciprocal theorem

Week 2: Single particle dynamics I: Sphere in Stokes flow – Rotation, translation

Week 3: Single particle dynamics I: Sphere in Stokes flow – Linear Flow

Week 4: Fundamental singularities, Faxen’s laws

Week 5: Role of fluid inertia - Oseen’s approximation

Week 6: Unsteady Stokes flow, Maxey-Riley Equation

Week 7: Single particle dynamics II – Boundary integral method

Week 8: Single particle dynamics II – Slender body theory

Week 9: Hydrodynamic Interactions - Resistance Mobility Formulation

Week 10: Hydrodynamic Interactions - Method of Reflections

Week 11: Hydrodynamic Interactions - Lubrication Theory

Week 12: Calculation of Suspension Viscosity

Books and references

1. A Physical Introduction to Suspension Dynamics by E. Guazzelli and J. F. Morris, Cambridge University Press

2. Colloidal Dispersions by W. B. Russel, D. A. Saville and W. R. Schowalter, Cambridge University Press

3. Advanced Transport Phenomena by L. Gary Leal, Cambridge University Press

4. Microhydrodynamics and Complex Fluids by D. Barthès-Biesel, CRC Press.

5. Microhydrodynamics: Principles and Selected Applications by Kim and Karrila, Dover Publications.

Instructor bio

Prof. Anubhab Roy

IIT Madras

Prof. Anubhab Roy is an Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Madras. He completed his Ph.D. at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research in Bengaluru and was subsequently a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University in USA. He has been a faculty at IIT Madras since May 2016. He works in the area of geophysical multiphase flows. His group employs a combination of theoretical and numerical tools to understand the contribution of fine-scale processes, specifically, the role of instabilities and particle transport in atmospheric and oceanic flows.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: April 17, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support