Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation

The growing use of microfluidic-based devices necessitates an analysis of flow characteristics through both experimental methods and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. CFD simulations facilitate the investigation of various devices, including medical sensors, by providing detailed insigh...

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Main Authors: Behrouz Pirouz, Hana Javadi Nejad, Anna Selene Chirillo, Seyed Navid Naghib, Patrizia Piro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Micromachines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/3/316
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author Behrouz Pirouz
Hana Javadi Nejad
Anna Selene Chirillo
Seyed Navid Naghib
Patrizia Piro
author_facet Behrouz Pirouz
Hana Javadi Nejad
Anna Selene Chirillo
Seyed Navid Naghib
Patrizia Piro
author_sort Behrouz Pirouz
collection DOAJ
description The growing use of microfluidic-based devices necessitates an analysis of flow characteristics through both experimental methods and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. CFD simulations facilitate the investigation of various devices, including medical sensors, by providing detailed insights into flow behavior. In this study, we conducted experimental and CFD analysis of the microfluidic flow in three devices: a COVID-19 rapid test kit, a blood glucose kit, and a PDMS kit. Our findings revealed that the changes in wall adhesion (contact angles) during the capillary flow could cause significant deviation from theoretical flow speed predictions. A hemodynamic analysis of the blood glucose kit and PDMS kit showed that capillary filling decreased in length, and flow speed could depend on the microchannel diameter. CFD results indicated the prominent role of porosity in the simulation of porous media material such as the COVID-19 test kit, as well as surface tension coefficients and wall adhesion (contact angles) in blood glucose kits and PDMS kits. Therefore, considering adaptive dynamic contact angles in CFD simulation software such as Ansys-Fluent 2024 could result in a more accurate prediction than simplified theoretical techniques, which is useful for sensor optimization and development.
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series Micromachines
spelling doaj-art-4a1f95c94c4e4956985f2d2e97c14a2f2025-08-20T01:48:42ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-03-0116331610.3390/mi16030316Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental InvestigationBehrouz Pirouz0Hana Javadi Nejad1Anna Selene Chirillo2Seyed Navid Naghib3Patrizia Piro4Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyASP Cosenza, 87100 Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, ItalyThe growing use of microfluidic-based devices necessitates an analysis of flow characteristics through both experimental methods and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations. CFD simulations facilitate the investigation of various devices, including medical sensors, by providing detailed insights into flow behavior. In this study, we conducted experimental and CFD analysis of the microfluidic flow in three devices: a COVID-19 rapid test kit, a blood glucose kit, and a PDMS kit. Our findings revealed that the changes in wall adhesion (contact angles) during the capillary flow could cause significant deviation from theoretical flow speed predictions. A hemodynamic analysis of the blood glucose kit and PDMS kit showed that capillary filling decreased in length, and flow speed could depend on the microchannel diameter. CFD results indicated the prominent role of porosity in the simulation of porous media material such as the COVID-19 test kit, as well as surface tension coefficients and wall adhesion (contact angles) in blood glucose kits and PDMS kits. Therefore, considering adaptive dynamic contact angles in CFD simulation software such as Ansys-Fluent 2024 could result in a more accurate prediction than simplified theoretical techniques, which is useful for sensor optimization and development.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/3/316microfluidmedical sensorsmicrodevicescapillary flowCFD
spellingShingle Behrouz Pirouz
Hana Javadi Nejad
Anna Selene Chirillo
Seyed Navid Naghib
Patrizia Piro
Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation
Micromachines
microfluid
medical sensors
microdevices
capillary flow
CFD
title Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation
title_full Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation
title_fullStr Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation
title_short Enhancing the Design of Microdevices: The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics and Experimental Investigation
title_sort enhancing the design of microdevices the role of computational fluid dynamics and experimental investigation
topic microfluid
medical sensors
microdevices
capillary flow
CFD
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/3/316
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AT hanajavadinejad enhancingthedesignofmicrodevicestheroleofcomputationalfluiddynamicsandexperimentalinvestigation
AT annaselenechirillo enhancingthedesignofmicrodevicestheroleofcomputationalfluiddynamicsandexperimentalinvestigation
AT seyednavidnaghib enhancingthedesignofmicrodevicestheroleofcomputationalfluiddynamicsandexperimentalinvestigation
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