Study on the behavior of a temperature-sensitive hydrogel micro-channel via FSI and non-FSI approaches

Abstract

In this work, the behavior of a temperature-sensitive hydrogel micro-channel is investigated by considering fluid–structure interaction (FSI). The micro-channel behavior is simulated numerically via both FSI and non-FSI frameworks. The results show the importance of FSI effects in these devices. FSI consideration affects the performance of the under-study micro-channel such as its closing temperature and stress field within the hydrogel part of the micro-channel. In addition, the flow rate of the micro-channel is calculated that depends on the deformation of the hydrogel and velocity field of the fluid domain in the FSI simulations. Finally, a parametric study is performed to examine the effect of inlet pressure of the micro-channel, the hydrogel thickness, the hydrogel cross-linking density, and the micro-channel width on the micro-channel performance. The obtained FSI results in comparison with those of non-FSI show that the FSI simulation is necessary for the micro-channels, especially for those of them with low cross-linking density and small thickness of the hydrogel. Furthermore, the FSI simulation is vital for those micro-channels with larger inlet pressures and larger widths.