| Summary: |
The coupling of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes with optimization shape design (OSD) tools is an active research area in the field of shape optimization. Advances in computing power and the development of more accurate CFD codes have lead to an increase in the interest in CFD-based shape optimization. A proper combination of numerical optimization tools with a small number of experimental validation steps offers an efficient way of attaining the desired design in reasonable time and offers a significant reduction in costs.
In this project we propose to develop a fully automated optimization strategy coupled with a finite volume viscoelastic code developed within our research group. The fully automated methodology will be general and applicable to both Newtonian and viscoelastic laminar flows, but we will focus our applications on the design of optimized microfluidic devices.
The design of chemical micro-reactors, the development of microfluidic chips for separation of biological molecules (e.g. DNA), screening of patients or combinatorial synthesis are just a few examples of an unbounded range of potential design applications in the area of microfluidics.
In this work we will design an optimized microfluidic rectifier (fluidic device, equivalent to a diode, whose resistance depends on the flow direction) with large flow resistance anisotropy, capable of operating efficiently under inertialess flow conditions which are typical of fluid flow in microscale fluidic elements.
With the advance of soft lithography fabrication methods, capable of producing complex networks of micro channels, the development of appropriate fluidic elements to efficiently control the flow directions is fundamental. Therefore, the development of a microfluidic rectifier capable of operating efficiently under creeping flow conditions without any moving mechanical parts offers a particularly interesting approach. The optimization design will be complemented by a detailed experime  |
Summary
The coupling of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes with optimization shape design (OSD) tools is an active research area in the field of shape optimization. Advances in computing power and the development of more accurate CFD codes have lead to an increase in the interest in CFD-based shape optimization. A proper combination of numerical optimization tools with a small number of experimental validation steps offers an efficient way of attaining the desired design in reasonable time and offers a significant reduction in costs.
In this project we propose to develop a fully automated optimization strategy coupled with a finite volume viscoelastic code developed within our research group. The fully automated methodology will be general and applicable to both Newtonian and viscoelastic laminar flows, but we will focus our applications on the design of optimized microfluidic devices.
The design of chemical micro-reactors, the development of microfluidic chips for separation of biological molecules (e.g. DNA), screening of patients or combinatorial synthesis are just a few examples of an unbounded range of potential design applications in the area of microfluidics.
In this work we will design an optimized microfluidic rectifier (fluidic device, equivalent to a diode, whose resistance depends on the flow direction) with large flow resistance anisotropy, capable of operating efficiently under inertialess flow conditions which are typical of fluid flow in microscale fluidic elements.
With the advance of soft lithography fabrication methods, capable of producing complex networks of micro channels, the development of appropriate fluidic elements to efficiently control the flow directions is fundamental. Therefore, the development of a microfluidic rectifier capable of operating efficiently under creeping flow conditions without any moving mechanical parts offers a particularly interesting approach. The optimization design will be complemented by a detailed experimental investigation utilising visualization techniques, pressure drop measurements and velocity-field measurements using a micro-Particle Image Velocimetry technique (micro-PIV). The experiments will allow the validation of the numerical methodology and to enable final adjustments on the optimization cycle.
The CFD-based optimization methodology will also be used in the design of a microfluidic extensional rheometer-on-a-chip capable of accurately measuring the extensional viscosity of dilute polymeric solutions. At the moment, an extensional rheometer capable of measuring this important flow property for dilute polymer solutions is not yet commercially available. We propose to design optimized hyperbolic-shaped stagnation flow micro geometries capable of achieving homogeneous elongational flows with regions of constant strain rate.
The application of optimization algorithms in the design of microfluidic devices for use with viscoelastic fluids is a major step forward in this area of research. The success of the proposed project places our research group in an excellent position internationally within this promising area of fundamental and applied research. |