Experiments reveal deterministic migration from disordered to ordered states in viscoelastic flow, with predictable focusing positions tunable by channel geometry and size ratio.
Zhu, Chenlin · Chenghui, Wu · Jungen, Cui · Qian, Lijuan · Yu, Zhaosheng
Physics of Fluids 2025
In viscoelastic square duct flow, small particles focus at five points (four corners and center), large particles at center only
In Newtonian square duct flow, particles accumulate at off-center long midline
With increasing Re, transition from disordered to ordered distribution in both Newtonian and viscoelastic square duct flow
As H/W decreases from 1 to 1/3, particle focusing shifts from four planes near walls to two planes to one center-plane in Newtonian fluid