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research article
Generic path for droplet relaxation in microfluidic channels
2013
In two-phase microfluidics, droplets often undergo deformations that drive them away from their circular equilibrium shape. Herein we concentrate on the relaxation of symmetrical deformations to a circle driven by surface tension effects, which are predominant at the micrometer scales. Working in a Hele-Shaw cell, we report a generic pathway for these types of relaxations. We simulate numerically the interface shape evolution and investigate it using linear stability analysis. Finally, we characterize this universal aspect of relaxation using a purely geometrical model that is tested in experiments.
Type
research article
Web of Science ID
WOS:000326117300010
Authors
Publication date
2013
Publisher
Published in
Volume
88
Issue
4
Article Number
043009
Peer reviewed
REVIEWED
EPFL units
Available on Infoscience
December 9, 2013
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