Abstract
The deformation behavior of a pH-sensitive hydrogel micro-fluidic valve system is investigated using inhomogeneous gel deformation theory, in which the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) of the gel solid and fluid flow in the pipe is considered. We use a finite element method with a well adopted hydrogel constitutive equation, which is coded in commercial software, ABAQUS, to simulate the hydrogel valve swelling deformation, while FLUENT is adopted to model the fluid flow in the pipe of the hydrogel valve system. The study demonstrates that FSI significantly affects the gel swelling deformed shapes, fluid flow pressure and velocity patterns. FSI has to be considered in the study on fluid flow regulated by hydrogel microfluidic valve. The study provides a more accurate and adoptable model for future design of new pH-sensitive hydrogel valves, and also gives a useful guideline for further studies on hydrogel fluidic applications.
Highlights
Hydrogel has become more popular recently as a functional engineering and/or bio-material
To investigate the swelling behavior of pH-sensitive hydrogel as a micro-fluidic valve, the free swelling ratio as a function of pH at a fixed salt concentration is studied via inhomogeneous gel theory [21]
A numerical simulation on pH-sensitive hydrogel embedded in a long micro pipe which takes fluid structure interaction (FSI) into account has been carried out
Summary
Hydrogel has become more popular recently as a functional engineering and/or bio-material. The most important property of hydrogel is its stimulus-sensitivity depending on external conditions, including pH value, temperature, pressure, salt concentration etc These conditions dramatically affect the swelling behavior, network structure, permeability and mechanical strength of hydrogels [8,9,10]. A hydrogel jacket valve is similar in design to the resistance-based flow control, but it was developed for applications requiring rapid response time. In order to assimilate the gel material into practical applications, this study conducts the simulation and analysis of the micro-fluidic valve performance for pH-sensitive hydrogel. Besides covering the modeling and simulation of a pH-sensitive hydrogel with an application as a microfluidic valve, the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effect on the deformation of the gel valve is considered to improve the accuracy of the results. The study on these three aspects demonstrates the effects of fluid flow on the more accurate prediction of gel sphere deformation and in turn on the flow regulations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
