Characteristics of Transient Electroosmotic Flow in Microchannels With Complex-Wavy Surface and Periodic Time-Varying Electric Field

Abstract

A numerical investigation is performed into the flow characteristics of the electroosmotic flow induced within a microchannel with a complex-wavy surface by a time-varying periodic electric field. The simulations focus specifically on the effects of the Strouhal number of the periodic electric potential, the amplitude of the periodic electric potential, the amplitude of the complex-wavy surface, and the waveform geometry. The results show that under steady-time periodic conditions, the flow pattern induced within the microchannel varies over the course of the oscillation period. In particular, it is shown that a flow recirculation structure is generated in the trough region of the wavy surface as the applied electric field falls to zero if the amplitude of the wavy surface exceeds a certain threshold value. In addition, it is shown that the phases of the electric field and electroosmotic velocity near the wall surface are almost identical. However, a phase shift exists between the electric field and the bulk flow velocity in the central region of the channel; particularly at larger values of the Strouhal number. Finally, it is shown that the velocity profile near the wavy surface is more sensitive to changes in the waveform geometry than that in the center of the channel. Overall, the simulation results presented in the study provide a useful source of reference for the development of new microfluidic systems incorporating microchannels with complex-wavy surfaces.