Viscous flow through microfabricated axisymmetric contraction/expansion geometries

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Pimenta, F (Author) Other; Toda Peters, K (Author) Other; Shen, AQ (Author) Other; Alves, MA (Author) FEUP; Haward, SJ (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Experiments in Fluids

Vol. 61

ISSN: 0723-4864

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-NKA

DOI: 10.1007/s00348-020-03036-z

Abstract (EN): We employ a state-of-the-art microfabrication technique (selective laser-induced etching) to fabricate a set of axisymmetric microfluidic geometries featuring a 4:1 contraction followed by a 1:4 downstream expansion in the radial dimension. Three devices are fabricated: the first has a sudden contraction followed by a sudden expansion, the second features hyperbolic contraction and expansion profiles, and the third has a numerically optimized contraction/expansion profile intended to provide a constant extensional/compressional rate along the axis. We use micro-particle image velocimetry to study the creeping flow of a Newtonian fluid through the three devices and we compare the obtained velocity profiles with finite-volume numerical predictions, with good agreement. This work demonstrates the capability of this new microfabrication technique for producing accurate non-planar microfluidic geometries with complex shapes and with sufficient clarity for optical probes. The axisymmetric microfluidic geometries examined have potential to be used for the study of the extensional properties and non-linear dynamics of viscoelastic flows, and to investigate the transport and deformation dynamics of bubbles, drops, cells, and fibers. Graphic abstract

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16