Movement and evolution of macromolecules in a grooved micro-channel

Abstract

This paper presented an investigation of macromolecular suspension in a grooved channel by using the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) with finitely extensible non-linear elastic (FENE) bead spring chains model. Before studying the movement and evolution of macromolecules, the DPD method was first validated by modeling the simple fluid flow in the grooved channel. For both simple fluid flow and macromolecular suspension, the flow fields were analyzed in detail. It is found that the structure of the grooved channel with sudden contraction and expansion strongly affects the velocity distribution. As the width of the channel reduces, the horizontal velocity increases simultaneously. Vortices can also be found at the top and bottom corners behind the contraction section. For macromolecular suspension, the macromolecular chains influence velocity and density distribution rather than the temperature and pressure. Macromolecules tend to drag simple fluid particles, reducing the velocity with density and velocity fluctuations. Particle trajectories and evolution of macromolecular conformation were investigated. The structure of the grooved channel with sudden contraction and expansion significantly influence the evolution of macromolecular conformation, while macromolecules display adaptivity to adjust their own conformation and angle to suit the structure so as to pass the channel smoothly.