3-weeks course report, s022973

The dependence of the

cross-sectional shape on the
hydraulic resistance of
microchannels
Hatim Azzouz
a
Supervisor: Niels Asger Mortensen and Henrik Bruus
MIC Department of Micro and Nanotechnology
Technical University of Denmark
5 July 2004
Contents
1 Introduction 3
2 Theory 4
2.1 Poiseuille Flow in a circular pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.1 Velocity eld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1.2 Flow rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2 Poiseuille Flow in an elliptic pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2.1 Velocity eld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2.2 Flow rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.3 Poiseuille Flow in a rectangular pipe - Fourier Transformation . . . . . . . . 8
2.3.1 Velocity eld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3.2 Flow rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.4 Hydraulic resistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.4.1 Elliptic cross-section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.4.2 Rectangular cross-section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3 FEMLAB simulations 13
4 Conclusion 16
2
Chapter 1
Introduction
For a steady incompressible ow through a channel the hydraulic resistance of the channel
depends on the cross-section shape of the channel. The objective of this project is to
investigate the dependence between the hydraulic resistance and the cross-section of the
channel in detail as well as to investigate the hydraulic resistance for various cross-section
geometries. In the following, Chapter 2, a description of the Poiseuille ow through a
channel with a series of cross-section geometries will be given and a denition of the
hydraulic resistance will be introduced. The ow through channels will be simulated by
use of FEMLAB. The results obtained in the FEMLAB simulation will be compared with
those predicted by theory and discussed in Chapter 3. Finally, conclusions are given.
3
Chapter 2
Theory
2.1 Poiseuille Flow in a circular pipe
2.1.1 Velocity eld
We consider an incompressible uid owing through a pipe (cylindrical tube) of length L
in the x direction and a circular cross section with radius a in the yz plane; see Figure 2.1.
The pressure drop over the length L is p, i.e p(0)=p
0
+p and p(L)=p
0
. We introduce
cylindrical polar coordinates in the yz-plane, y=rcos and z=rsin, where r is the radial
distance from the cylinder axis and is the azimuthal angle (the angle around from the z
axis).
a
Figure 2.1: A cylindrical tube with radius a.
We study a ow along the axis of the tube, so that
v = v
x
(r)e
x
= (v
x
(r), 0, 0). (2.1)
This eld depends only on r and it is invariant under translations along the cylinder axis
as well as rotations.
4
2.1. POISEUILLE FLOW IN A CIRCULAR PIPE CHAPTER 2. THEORY
In applying the Navier-Stokes equation
1
we assume that there is neither external forces
nor instantaneous acceleration aecting the ow i.e f=0 and
v
t
=0, respectively, giving
p =
2
v (2.3)
where is the viscosity of the uid.
Since
2
v=e
x

2
v
x
(r) it follows from projecting of the Navier-Stokes equation p=
2
v
on e
r
and e

that
p
r
=
p

= 0. (2.4)
This means that pressure only depends on the longitudinal coordinate p = p(x). Calcu-
lating the Laplacian term acting on a function of r in the Navier-Stokes equation

2
v
x
(r) = (v
x
(r)) =
_
dv
x
(r)
dr
e
x
_
=
d
2
v
x
(r)
dr
2
+
1
r
dv
x
dr
(2.5)
we nally obtain
dp(x)
dx
=
_
d
2
v
x
(r)
dr
2
+
1
r
dv
x
dr
_
. (2.6)
The left hand side of this equation depends only on x whereas the right hand side depends
only on r. Since the pressure dierence over the length of the pipe is given by
p
L
it follows
that
dp(x)
dx
=
p
L
(2.7)
where the minus sign is due to the assumption that if the uid is supposed to run in the
positive x-direction the pressure must be higher at the beginning (x = 0) than at the end
(x = L). Thus we obtain, with a little rewriting, the following Navier-Stokes equation
equation
1
r
d
dr
_
r
dv
x
(r)
dr
_
=
p
L
. (2.8)
The solution to this equation with no-slip boundary conditions, i.e v
x
(0)=v
x
(a)=0, is
v
x
(r) = v
0
_
1
r
2
a
2
_
(2.9)
where v
0
is the integration constant. This can easily be shown to be the solution by
inserting
dv
x
(r)
dr
=
2v
0
r
a
2
(2.10)
1
Navier-Stokes equation is a partial dierential equation expressing the local balance of momentum in
a uid around any point of space at any time. It is given by

v
t
= p +
2
v + f (2.2)
where the terms
v
t
is the instantaneous acceleration, p is the dynamical pressure gradient,
2
v is
the shear viscosity term and f is the external body force.
5
2.2. POISEUILLE FLOW IN AN ELLIPTIC PIPE CHAPTER 2. THEORY
in the nally obtained Navier-Stokes. The integration constant is then determined to be
v
0
=
1
4
p
L
a
2
. (2.11)
Thus, the solution to our Navier-Stokes equation is
v
x
(r) =
1
4
p
L
a
2
_
1
r
2
a
2
_
. (2.12)
2.1.2 Flow rate
The total ow rate Q (volume pr. time) carried through the pipe is given by
Q =
_
circle
dydz v
x
(r). (2.13)
In cylindrical polar coordinates it can be rewritten as
Q =
_
a
0
_
2
0
rdrdv
x
(r) (2.14)
to get
Q =

8
p
L
a
4
. (2.15)
2.2 Poiseuille Flow in an elliptic pipe
2.2.1 Velocity eld
For an elliptic pipe, as shown in Figure 2.2, with an elliptic cross section having axes a and
b along the y and the z axis, respectively, the same assumptions as for the circular pipe
are valid. Instead of using the cylindrical polar coordinates we introduce the cartesian
coordinates. The velocity eld is again assumed longitudinal of the form
v = v
x
(y, z)e
x
= (v
x
(y, z), 0, 0). (2.16)
The Navier-Stokes equation is given by the same equation as in a circular pipe. Choosing
the cartesian coordinates the Navier-Stokes equation can be expressed as

2
v
x
(y, z) = p (2.17)
where the Laplacian term can be calculated by the same formalism of section 2.1 to give

2
v
x
(y, z) =
_

2
v
x
(y, z)
y
2
+

2
v
x
(y, z)
z
2
_
. (2.18)
Thus we obtain the following Navier-Stokes equation

p
L
=
_

2
v
x
(y, z)
y
2
+

2
v
x
(y, z)
z
2
_
(2.19)
6
2.2. POISEUILLE FLOW IN AN ELLIPTIC PIPE CHAPTER 2. THEORY
a b
Figure 2.2: A pipe with an elliptic cross-section having axes a and b
with the solution, satisfying the no-slip condition, given by
v
x
(y, z) = v
0
_
1
y
2
a
2

z
2
b
2
_
. (2.20)
Inserting

2
vx(y,z)
dy
2
=
2v
0
a
2
and

2
vx(y,z)
dz
2
=
2v
0
b
2
in the Navier-Stokes equation we obtain the
integration constant
v
o
=
1
2
p
L
(ab)
2
a
2
+ b
2
. (2.21)
Thus, the longitudinal velocity prole in an elliptic pipe becomes
v
x
(y, z) =
1
2
p
L
(ab)
2
a
2
+ b
2
_
1
y
2
a
2

z
2
b
2
_
. (2.22)
Notice that for a = b the integration constant for the elliptic pipe becomes the one for the
circular pipe indicating that circular pipe is a special case of the elliptical.
2.2.2 Flow rate
The ow rate is given by
Q =
_
ellipse
dydz v
x
(y, z). (2.23)
Introducing the transformation variables

Y =
1
b
z and

Z=
1
a
y, and inserting them in the
integral for the ow rate we obtain
Q = abv
0

_
ellipse
d

Y d

Z (1 y
2
z
2
) = 2abv
0
_
1
0
rdr (1 r
2
) (2.24)
After the integration we nally obtain the ow rate for the elliptic pipe
Q =

4
p
L
(ab)
3
a
2
+ b
2
(2.25)
7
2.3. POISEUILLE FLOW IN A RECTANGULAR PIPE - FOURIER
TRANSFORMATION CHAPTER 2. THEORY
2.3 Poiseuille Flow in a rectangular pipe - Fourier Transfor-
mation
2.3.1 Velocity eld
The solution of the ow in the rectangular pipe is not simple to obtain. The no-slip
boundary condition does not in this case allow for a separation of the 2D problem into
two independent 1D problems. Instead we solve the problem by Fourier analysis, where
only sine functions are involved since they guarantee fullment of the no-slip boundary
condition. We Fourier-expand in the z-axis, so that v
x
(y, 0) = v
x
(y, h) = 0. The solution
to the Navier-Stokes equation is of the form
v
x
(y, z) =

n=1
f
n
(y) sin(n
z
h
) (2.26)
In applying the Navier-stokes equation

2
v
x
(y, z) =
P
L
(2.27)
we get

2
v
x
(y, z) =

n=1
_
d
2
f
n
(y)
dy
2

n
2

2
h
2
f
n
(y)
_
sin(n
z
h
) (2.28)
In the Navier-Stokes equation we also have to Fourier transform the constant P/L,
or simpler just the constant 1 which can be multiplied by any constant. The Fourier
transform of the constant P/L thus becomes
P
L
=
P
L
1 =
P
L
4

n,odd
1
n
sin(n
z
h
). (2.29)
The solution is only possible if
f
n
(y) = 0 for n even (2.30)
d
2
f
n
(y)
dy
2

n
2

2
h
2
f
n
(y) =
P
L
4
n
for n odd (2.31)
The rst step to solve this nonhomogeneous equation is to nd a general solution of the
homogeneous equation f
n
(y)
h
. The characteristic equation of the homogeneous equation
is

2
(n/h)
2
= 0. (2.32)
It has the roots
1
= 0 and
2
= n/h. Hence a real general solution of the homogenous
equation is
f
n
(y)
h
= Ae
y
1
+ Be
y
2
. (2.33)
8
2.3. POISEUILLE FLOW IN A RECTANGULAR PIPE - FOURIER
TRANSFORMATION CHAPTER 2. THEORY
W
H
Figure 2.3: A rectangular pipe of height h and width w.
Using the denitions of the hyperbolic functions
sinhx =
e
x
e
x
2
(2.34)
coshx =
e
x
+ e
x
2
(2.35)
the general solution of the homogeneous equation can be rewritten as
f
n
(y)
h
= B cosh
_
n
y
h
_
+ B sinh
_
n
y
h
_
(2.36)
The second step is to nd a particular solution f
n
(y)
p
of the nonhomogeneous equation.
Since the equation on the right has the derivative zero, we say
f
n
(y)
p
= C. (2.37)
Substitution gives (n

h
)
2
C =
P
L
4
n
. By comparison, C =
P
L
4h
2

3
1
n
3
. Hence a general
solution of the nonhomogeneous equation is
f
n
(y) = f
n
(y)
h
+ f
n
(y)
p
(2.38)
= B cosh
_
n
y
h
_
+ B sinh
_
n
y
h
_

4h
2

3
1
n
3
. (2.39)
From the boundary condition f
n
(/2) = f
n
(/2) = 0, we get B =
P

4h
2

3
1
n
3
1
cosh(n
w
2h
)
resulting in
f
n
(y) =
P

3
h
2
n
3
_
cosh
_
n
y
z
_
cosh
_
n
w
2h
_ 1
_
. (2.40)
Thus the solution of the ow in the rectangular pipe is
v
x
(y, z) =
P

h
2
4

n,odd
1
n
3
_
cosh
_
n
y
z
_
cosh
_
n
w
2h
_ 1
_
sin
_
n
y
z
_
. (2.41)
9
2.4. HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE CHAPTER 2. THEORY
2.3.2 Flow rate
The ow rate for a rectangular pipe is given by
Q =
_ w
2
0
dy
_
h
0
dz v
x
(y, z). (2.42)
Using the following
2
_ w
2
0
dy cosh
_
n
y
h
_
=
2h
n
sinh
_
n
y
2h
_
(2.43)
_
h
0
dz sinh
_
n
z
h
_
=
2h
n
for n odd (2.44)

n,odd
1
n
4
=

4
96
. (2.45)
we get
Q =
P
12
wh
3
_
1

n,odd
192

5
h
w
1
n
5
tanh
_
n
w
2h
_
_
. (2.46)
2.4 Hydraulic resistance
In analogy with Ohms law for an electric resistor, it is natural to dene the hydraulic
resistance R
hyd
of a pipe carrying some liquid as
p = R
hyd
Q (2.47)
Since we are interested in the relation between the hydraulic resistance and the cross-
section geometry of the pipe it is appropriate to reexpress the hydraulic resistance as
R =

A
2
(2.48)
where is the correction coecient. We introduce the compactness which the measure
of the square of the perimeter over the area A of the cross-section geometry ,
=

2
A
=
__

dl
_
2
__

dr
_
1
(2.49)
2.4.1 Elliptic cross-section
Expressing the correction coecient as a function of the compactness we get for the circular
cross-section that () = 8 = 2.
10
2.4. HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE CHAPTER 2. THEORY
W
DdW
Figure 2.4: A domain . The red boundary is the perimeter l of the domain and the blue
subdomain is the area A.
For the elliptic cross-section the compactness is given by
=
_
_

2
0
d
_
1 (1 b
2
/a
2
) sin
2

_
2
ab
(2.50)
=
16

a
b
__
2
0
d
_
1 (1 b
2
/a
2
) sin
2

_
2
(2.51)

16

a
b
, a b. (2.52)
Thus, the correction coecient for the elliptic cross-section is given by
() = 4
a
2
+ b
2
ab


2
4
. (2.53)
2.4.2 Rectangular cross-section
Assuming that w > h then tanh
_
n
w
2h
_
1 and we get the ow rate to
Q
P
12
wh
3
_
1
186

5
(5)
w
h
_
. (2.54)
The correction coecient is then given by

12
5

5
186(5)
, (2.55)
where is the width-to-hight ratio w/h.
Setting the compactness = 8 + 4 + 4/ for a rectangle in the expression of we get
=
12
5
(/4 2 1/)
2

5
(/4 2 1/) 186(5)
. (2.56)
From the expression of it can be shown that for
lim

= 3 (2.57)
11
2.4. HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE CHAPTER 2. THEORY
we have the asymptotic dependence 3 + c. Since
lim

( 3) = 24 +
2232(5)

5
(2.58)
we get the correction coecient for the rectangular class to
= 3 16.44. (2.59)
12
Chapter 3
FEMLAB simulations
FEMLAB is a partial dierential equation solver that builds on MATLAB. FEMLAB -
which stands for Finite Element Modelling LABoratory- is an advanced software package
for modeling and simulation of any physical process that can be described with partial
dierential equations. The dierential equation must be specied in some geometry, the
so-called computational domain, together with the boundary conditions along the surface
of the domain as well as the initial values at the starting time. The computational domain
is divided into a huge number of nite-sized elements forming the basis computation.
Having introduced the analytic description of the Poiseuille ow through a pipe with
various cross-sections, we are now interested in simulating the ow in FEMLAB for the
same cross-section geometries. The numerical calculations are then compared to those
predicted by the theory.
Before starting the simulation, a dierential equation must be specied. Since the
equation expressing the velocity eld is of the form P =
2
v, the the simulation dier-
ential model was chosen to be a Piossons equation in the 2D-space. To draw the geometry
in which the partial dierential equation must be specied, we click on Draw Mode on
the tool bar. In this window the desired geometry can now be designed. Hereafter, the
no-slip boundary is specied by clicking on Boundary Settings under Physics. Specifying
the subdomain settings is done by clicking on Subdomain Settings under Physics. The
geometry is then rened and the PDE solved. The solution plotted, displays the velocity
eld; see Figure 3.1. The velocity eld of the ow has its maximum in the center of the
pipe, but begins to decrease when moving radially from the center. When in contact with
the cross-section boundary the velocity of the ow is at its minimum, fullling the no-slip
condition.
Since we also are interested in calculating the the hydraulic resistance, the correction
coecient
1
and the compactness is determined by making subdomain A, boundary l and
velocity eld integration. The results depicting the correction coecient versus the com-
1
We saw that the hydraulic resistance was dened as P/L = R
hyd
Q. This can be rewritten as
P
L
=

A
2

_
dydzv
x
(y, z). Since all the values are required dimensionless in FEMLAB we set the factor
P/L = 1 giving us the correction coecient: =
A
2
_
dydzvx(y,z)
.
13
CHAPTER 3. FEMLAB SIMULATIONS
Figure 3.1: A diagram showing the simulation results of the velocity eld for a circular, elliptical,
rectangular and triangular cross-section.
pactness for various cross-sections is shown in Figure 3.2. It emerges clearly from Figure
3.2 that the relation between the correction coecient and the compactness is linear for
the three cross-section classes: circular, elliptic and rectangular. The numeric propor-
tionality factor for all cross-section groups is in good agreement with those predicted by
theory. For the elliptic it is 2.55, close to the theoretical value of 2.47 The deviation is due
to the assumption: a b, made in our calculation. For the rectangular class, the value of
the proportionality factor is found to be 3. This value agree completely with the theory.
Since the analytic calculations are not quite possible for triangle classes, only simulation
was made. The results for this cross-section class is also shown in Figure 3.2. Also here,
the relation between and is linear. The proportionality factor is less than the other
cross-section classes, namely 1.46. For cross-section classes more complicated than the
elliptical (circular), increases for small values of , leading to an increase of the hydraulic
resistance.
14
CHAPTER 3. FEMLAB SIMULATIONS
0 20 40 60
0
50
100
150
200
Theory for rectangular class.
Theory for ellipse class.
Linear fit to triangular class.
For circular
Correction coefficient vs. Compactness
l
2
/A
a
Figure 3.2: Correction coecient versus compactness for the elliptical, rectangular and triangular
class. The result for the circle is also indicated.
15
Chapter 4
Conclusion
We have demonstrated a close to linear relation between the hydraulic resistance and the
compactness for the following cross-section geometries: circular, elliptic, triangular and
rectangular. The results obtained were in good agreement with theory.
For geometries more complicated than the circular the resistance increases, since a big
part of the uid is in contact with the inner surface of the channel.
16