Microfluidic converging/diverging channels optimised for homogeneous extensional deformation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

K. Zografos (Author) Other; F. Pimenta (Author) FEUP; M. A. Alves (Author) FEUP; M. S. N. Oliveira (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Biomicrofluidics

Vol. 10 No. 4

Pages: 043508-1-043508-20

ISSN: 1932-1058

Publisher: American Institute of Physics

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 30 Citations

INSPEC

Associated Projects

Elastic-Turbulence - Purely-elastic flow instabilities and transition to elastic turbulence in microscale flows of complex fluids

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-MJA

DOI: 10.1063/1.4954814

Abstract (EN): In this work, we optimise microfluidic converging/diverging geometries in order to produce constant strain-rates along the centreline of the flow, for performing studies under homogeneous extension. The design is examined for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional flows where the effects of aspect ratio and dimensionless contraction length are investigated. Initially, pressure driven flows of Newtonian fluids under creeping flow conditions are considered, which is a reasonable approximation in microfluidics, and the limits of the applicability of the design in terms of Reynolds numbers are investigated. The optimised geometry is then used for studying the flow of viscoelastic fluids and the practical limitations in terms of Weissenberg number are reported. Furthermore, the optimisation strategy is also applied for electro-osmotic driven flows, where the development of a plug-like velocity profile allows for a wider region of homogeneous extensional deformation in the flow field.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 20