On Numerical Modeling of Capillary Flow Dynamics in a Microchannel Model by using the Finite Element Method
C.-T. Lee1, C.-C. Lee2, J.-E. Lin3, M.-L. Liu4
1Beijing Institute of Technology-Bryant College, Zhuhai, Guangdong, P.R. China
2Department of Chemistry, Simor Fraser University, British Columbia, BC, Canada
3Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
4Department of Physics, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, P. R. China
Keywords: двухфазное капиллярное течение, микроканал, поверхностное натяжение, метод конечных элементов, two-phase capillary flow, microchannel, surface tension, finite element method
Abstract
A simple microchannel model with submillimeter-scale geometries is proposed for studying capillary flows and investigating the dynamics in the channel. The finite element method incorporating surface tension and two-phase flow characteristic is applied. Velocity and pressure fields in the microchannel are presented. It is shown that the capillary-phase front in the microchannel is stirred, suffering small oscillations and retreating from the previous position before traveling again. Such a phenomenon is caused by nonlinear interaction of the capillary flow, surface tension, and boundary conditions.
DOI: 10.1134/S0021894416050229
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