COUPLED 2025

Dynamics of particles in a low-Reynolds-number fluid in confined cavity

  • Sun, Zhuang (Institute of Mechanics, University of Chinese)
  • de Pablo, Juan (Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Uni)
  • Jiang, Xikai (Institute of Mechanics, University of Chinese)

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Dynamics of a spherical particle and the suspending low-Reynolds-number fluid confined between two spherical shells were studied numerically. We calculated the particle’s hydrodynamic mobilities at various locations in the confined space and the drift velocity of the particle perpendicular to the external force. Particle trajectories in a rotating flow when inner and/or outer shells rotates at a constant angular velocity were studied. The externally applied force, rotation-induced centrifugal/centripetal force, and particle-wall interaction lead to various modes of particle motion. In addition, we studied dynamics of a charged particle confined in a spherical cavity numerically. We calculated the forces acting on the particle at various locations in the confined space. Several different dielectric permittivities are tested, and the magnitude of electric forces are calculated as the dielectric contrast changes. Under the influence of both hydrodynamic force and the force from electrostatic interaction, the charged particle's motion is very difference from non-charged case. This work lays the foundation to understand and manipulate particulate transport in microfluidic applications such as intracellular transport and encapsulation technologies. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by a grant from Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. 025GJHZ2022023MI).