Inertial focusing of neutrally buoyant spherical particle in shallow microchannels

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wang, Guiquan, Van Roy, Willem, Liu, Chengxun, Stakenborg, Tim, Jones, Benjamin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Wang, Guiquan
Van Roy, Willem
Liu, Chengxun
Stakenborg, Tim
Jones, Benjamin
author_facet Wang, Guiquan
Van Roy, Willem
Liu, Chengxun
Stakenborg, Tim
Jones, Benjamin
contents This study investigates the lift force acting on a finite-size, neutrally buoyant spherical particle suspended in a liquid while flowing through a shallow channel at low Reynolds numbers. Using an immersed boundary method, we calculate the lift force for particle radius-to-channel height ratios spanning \(0.03 \leq a/H \leq 0.35\) in 2D planar Poiseuille flows. We propose an explicit formula that accurately predicts the lift force for particles as large as \(a/H = 0.35\) and remains valid for particle Reynolds number \(Re_p \leq 1\), despite a reduction in near-wall lift force at higher \(Re_p\). The influence of slip boundary conditions is also explored, demonstrating that increased slip length reduces near-wall lift force and shifts the particle equilibrium position closer to the wall. Predictions of the particle trajectory from the derived model are in good agreement to the published experimental data. These findings offer a practical framework for estimating the migration of large particles in microfluidic devices.(This article has been accepted for publication in Physics of Fluids. After publication, it will be available via the AIP Publishing website.)
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_25353
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Inertial focusing of neutrally buoyant spherical particle in shallow microchannels
Wang, Guiquan
Van Roy, Willem
Liu, Chengxun
Stakenborg, Tim
Jones, Benjamin
Fluid Dynamics
This study investigates the lift force acting on a finite-size, neutrally buoyant spherical particle suspended in a liquid while flowing through a shallow channel at low Reynolds numbers. Using an immersed boundary method, we calculate the lift force for particle radius-to-channel height ratios spanning \(0.03 \leq a/H \leq 0.35\) in 2D planar Poiseuille flows. We propose an explicit formula that accurately predicts the lift force for particles as large as \(a/H = 0.35\) and remains valid for particle Reynolds number \(Re_p \leq 1\), despite a reduction in near-wall lift force at higher \(Re_p\). The influence of slip boundary conditions is also explored, demonstrating that increased slip length reduces near-wall lift force and shifts the particle equilibrium position closer to the wall. Predictions of the particle trajectory from the derived model are in good agreement to the published experimental data. These findings offer a practical framework for estimating the migration of large particles in microfluidic devices.(This article has been accepted for publication in Physics of Fluids. After publication, it will be available via the AIP Publishing website.)
title Inertial focusing of neutrally buoyant spherical particle in shallow microchannels
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.25353