(232a) Droplet Motion in a Microfluidic Channel with a Constriction

The study of the droplet behavior through a constriction in a rectangular channel is a problem encountered in a broad range of applications in microfluidic devices and enhance oil recovery. Utilizing our three-dimensional spectral boundary element algorithm, we investigate the motion, deformation and critical blocking conditions of a viscous droplet in a square channel at low-Reynolds-number flows. In the talk we will present the effects of several parameters affecting the dynamics of the droplet as it is squeezed through the constriction including droplet size, size of constriction and non-symmetrical constriction shapes.