Introduction to Soft Matter Course | NPTEL | Prof. Aloke Kumar IISc
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 6 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Introduction to Soft Matter: An 8-Week NPTEL Course by Prof. Aloke Kumar
Have you ever wondered why ketchup is hard to get out of the bottle but flows easily once it starts? Or what gives silly putty its unique stretchy and bouncy properties? The answers lie in the fascinating world of Soft Matter. We are excited to introduce a comprehensive online course that delves into this intriguing field: "Introduction to Soft Matter", offered by the prestigious NPTEL platform and taught by Prof. Aloke Kumar from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
About the Instructor: Prof. Aloke Kumar
This course is led by an expert with an exemplary academic and research background. Prof. Aloke Kumar earned his Bachelors and Masters from IIT Kharagpur and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, USA. His doctoral work was foundational in the area of opto-electrofluidics. A recipient of the prestigious DeKarman fellowship, he further honed his expertise as a Eugene Wigner Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), establishing a research program on bacterial biofilms.
Prof. Kumar has also served as the Canada Research Chair in Microfluidics for Biological Systems at the University of Alberta. He has co-authored over 50 scientific publications in top-tier journals like Physical Review Letters, Lab-on-a-Chip, and Nanoscale. Now at IISc Bangalore, he leads the Soft Matter Lab, focusing on bacterial biofilms and polymeric flows, bringing a wealth of practical and theoretical knowledge to this course.
What is Soft Matter?
Soft matter, or complex fluids, refers to materials that are easily deformed by thermal stresses or thermal fluctuations. They sit between simple liquids and hard solids, exhibiting a rich spectrum of mechanical behaviors. This includes everyday materials like:
- Polymers (e.g., plastics, rubber)
- Biological tissues
- Surfactants (e.g., soaps, detergents)
- Liquid crystals (in displays)
- Foams, gels, and pastes
Understanding these materials is crucial for advancements in manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products.
Course Overview and Layout
This 8-week course is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides a structured introduction to the fundamental concepts of soft matter physics and mechanics.
Weekly Breakdown:
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Historical context and the Deborah number |
| Week 2 | Classical elastic and viscous materials |
| Week 3 | Viscoelastic materials |
| Week 4 | Viscoelastic materials (continued) |
| Week 5 | Macromolecules and viscoelasticity |
| Week 6 | Shear thickening and shear thinning fluids |
| Week 7 | Typical experimental results |
| Week 8 | Typical experimental results (continued) |
The course begins with foundational concepts, including the famous Deborah number which helps distinguish fluid-like from solid-like behavior. It then progresses to model classical materials, before diving deep into the core subject of viscoelasticity—where materials exhibit both viscous and elastic characteristics. Later weeks explore the behavior of polymers and non-Newtonian fluids (like shear-thickening cornstarch paste), culminating in an understanding of standard experimental methods in the field.
Who Should Enroll?
This course is ideally suited for students and professionals in:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Physics
- Interdisciplinary Sciences
Prerequisites: While a basic knowledge of fluid or solid mechanics is helpful, it is not mandatory. The course is designed to be accessible. For those wishing to prepare, the NPTEL course "Introduction to Fluid Mechanics" can be a useful (but not necessary) resource.
Learning Resources and Outcomes
Prof. Kumar will guide you through the essential models and experimental techniques used to characterize soft matter. The course is based on seminal textbooks in the field, including:
- Mechanical Response of Polymers- An Introduction by Wineman & Rajagopal
- Dynamics of Polymeric Fluids by Bird, Armstrong, & Hassager
- Fluid Dynamics of Viscoelastic Liquids by Joseph
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental principles governing soft matter behavior.
- Differentiate between viscous, elastic, and viscoelastic responses.
- Comprehend models for polymer dynamics and flow.
- Interpret common experimental data from soft material tests.
Why Take This Course?
Soft matter science is a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field with applications ranging from drug delivery and tissue engineering to the development of new smart materials and consumer goods. Learning from an accomplished researcher like Prof. Aloke Kumar provides not just theoretical knowledge but also insights into cutting-edge research applications, particularly in biofilms and microfluidics.
This free NPTEL course offers a unique opportunity to build a strong foundation in soft matter from one of India's premier institutions. Whether you're a student looking to specialize, a researcher seeking to broaden your knowledge, or a professional encountering these materials in your work, this course is an invaluable resource.
Enroll today and start your journey into the squishy, stretchy, and fascinating world of soft matter!
Enroll Now →