Microfluidics/Fluid dynamics equation

The motion of fluid is described by applying the fundamental law of mechanics, known as Newton's second law, not on a point particle but on a fluid.

Fluid particle edit

 
Range of applicability of the fluid particle

A fluid particle is a volume, large enough to contain smooth molecular variations, but small compared to the system size. It has a mesoscopic character, intermediate between a microscopic (molecular) and macroscopic description. A continuum approach is possible.


In liquids the fluid particle size can be larger than molecules and smaller than micrometric channels.

In gases the mean free path   can be not smaller than the microsystem size, a specific approach is necessary.

The continuum approach allows to define, as a function of the position in space   and the time  :

  •  , the mass density (unit kg/m^3)
  •  , the velocity (unit m/s)

Mass conservation edit

It writes

 

For incompressible fluids (which is almost the case with liquids, and gases at velocities small in front of the speed of sound),  , and mass conservation implies a specific flow field that is divergence free,  .

Forces within a fluid edit

 
Volume element with outward normal on a surface

Two kind of forces are present in a fluid:

  • Isotropic normal force: the pressure. They provide a component
 on a small element of surface  ,   being the outward normal to volume element.
  • Shear forces: due to internal friction they provide a component
 , with   the shear stress tensor.

For a Newtonian fluid the shear stress tensor components are given by

 

where   is the viscosity.

Viscosity   (Pa.s or kg/m·s) at 20°C
air  
water  
olive oil  
glycerin  

Navier-Stokes equation edit

For a Newtonian fluid the Navier-stokes equation writes

 

The second term on the left hand side comes from the inertia of the fluid. It is a non-linear term that produces history dependent effect very present at the human scale or larger scale:

  • swirls, tornados
  • turbulence
  • propulsive forces

However at small scales inertia is damped by viscous effects (second term on the right) that are preponderant. The Reynolds number provides an estimation of the ratio inertial forces/viscous forces: if the typical velocity of the fluid is  , and the typical size  

 .

At small scales  , and the second term   can be neglected, the Navier-Stokes equation becomes the Stokes equation. This equation is linear and easier to solve.

 

The velocity field solution of these equations is linear in applied stresses meaning:

  • the solution is unique (whereas the full Navier-Stokes equation gives rise to turbulence and instabilities)
  • the solution is reversed when the forces are reversed: it is impossible to create a fluid "diode" at small scales

It can also be shown that the solution minimizes the total dissipated power.

Boundary conditions edit

The equations of motions can be solved when boundary conditions are given at the surface of the fluid.

For usual liquids edit

there is a no-slip boundary condition,  at the surface

For gases, and for some non-wetting liquids edit

For gases, the Knudsen number compares the mean free path to the typical lengthscale of the flow.

 

For   the continuum approach still holds with no slip at the interface. For   a molecular approach is necessary. For intermediate numbers  , Navier-Stokes still holds but there is a slip at the solid surface, defined by the Navier length  , such that the slip velocity of the fluid is

 

with   the distance to the surface. Usually  

For liquids, the debate is still open...

Bibliography edit

  • Etienne Guyon, Jean-Pierre Hulin, Luc Petit, Catalin Mitescu (2001). Physical Hydrodynamics. Oxford University Press. ISBN 10- 0198517459 Invalid ISBN.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Stéphane Colin (2004). Microfluidique. Hermès science. p. 54. ISBN 10- 2746208156 Invalid ISBN.