Analogue tuning of particle focusing in elasto-inertial flow

Abstract We report a unique tuneable analogue trend in particle focusing the laminar and weak viscoelastic regime of elasto-inertial flows. observe experimentally that particles circular cross-section microchannels can be tuned to any bandwidths lie between “Segre-Silberberg annulus” centre microcapillary. use direct numerical simulations investigate this phenomenon understand how minute amounts elasticity affect focussing at increasing flow rates. An Immersed Boundary Method is used account for presence FENE-P model simulate polymers Non-Newtonian fluid. The study dynamics stability finite size are further analyse behaviour Reynolds numbers higher than what allowed by experimental setup. In particular, we able entire migration trajectories as they reach their final positions extend our predictions other geometries such square cross section. believe complex effects originate due combination inertia weakly regime, where neither nor mask each other’s effect completely, leading number intermediate positions. present provides fundamental new understanding elastic strongly inertial flows, whose findings exploited potentially multiple microfluidics-based biological sorting applications.