The transport of soft particles through narrow channels or pores is ubiquitous in biological systems and industrial processes. On many occasions, the particles deform and temporarily block the channel, inducing a built-up pressure. This pressure buildup often has a profound effect on the behavior of the respective system; yet, it is difficult to be characterized. In this work, we establish a quantitative correlation between the built-up pressure and the material and geometry properties through experiments and mechanics analysis. We fabricate microgels with a controlled diameter and elastic modulus by microfluidics. We then force them to individually pass through a constrictive or straight confining channel and monitor the pressure variation across the channel. To interpret the pressure measurement, we develop an analytical model based on the Neo-Hookean material law to quantify the dependence of the maximum built-up pressure on the radius ratio of the elastic sphere to the channel, the elastic modulus of the sphere, and two constant parameters in the friction constitutive law between the sphere and the channel wall. This model not only agrees very well with the experimental measurement conducted at large microgel deformation but also recovers the classical theory of contact at small deformation. Featuring a balance between accuracy and simplicity, our result could shed light on understanding various biological and engineering processes involving the passage of elastic particles through narrow channels or pores.
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9 March 2020
Research Article|
March 11 2020
Understanding transport of an elastic, spherical particle through a confining channel
Shuaijun Li
;
Shuaijun Li
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The City College of New York
, New York, New York 10031, USA
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Honghui Yu
;
Honghui Yu
a)
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The City College of New York
, New York, New York 10031, USA
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: yu@ccny.cuny.edu; wendeng@mst.edu; and jfan1@ccny.cuny.edu
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Tai-De Li;
Tai-De Li
2
Advanced Science and Research Center, The City University of New York
, New York, New York 10031, USA
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Zi Chen
;
Zi Chen
3
Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College
, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA
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Wen Deng
;
Wen Deng
a)
4
Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
, Rolla, Missouri 65409, USA
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: yu@ccny.cuny.edu; wendeng@mst.edu; and jfan1@ccny.cuny.edu
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Alimohammad Anbari
;
Alimohammad Anbari
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The City College of New York
, New York, New York 10031, USA
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Jing Fan
Jing Fan
a)
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The City College of New York
, New York, New York 10031, USA
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: yu@ccny.cuny.edu; wendeng@mst.edu; and jfan1@ccny.cuny.edu
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a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: yu@ccny.cuny.edu; wendeng@mst.edu; and jfan1@ccny.cuny.edu
Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 103705 (2020)
Article history
Received:
November 22 2019
Accepted:
February 09 2020
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
Particle size in confined channels greatly affects pressure buildup
Citation
Shuaijun Li, Honghui Yu, Tai-De Li, Zi Chen, Wen Deng, Alimohammad Anbari, Jing Fan; Understanding transport of an elastic, spherical particle through a confining channel. Appl. Phys. Lett. 9 March 2020; 116 (10): 103705. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5139887
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