A panel method study of vortex sheets with special emphasis on sheets of axisymmetric geometry

The self induced evolution of a vortex sheet was simulated by modeling the sheet using an integration of discrete elements of vorticity. Replacing small sections of a vortex sheet by flat panels of constant vorticity is found to reproduce more accurately the initial conditions for the Lagrangian simulation technique than replacement by point vortices. The flat panel method for the vortex sheet was then extended to model axisymmetric vortex sheets. The local and far field velocities induced by the axisymmetric panels were obtained using matched asymptotic analysis, and some of the uncertainties involved in other models of the axisymmetric vortex sheet have been eliminated. One important result of this analysis is the determination of the proper choice of core size for a circular vortex filament which may replace a section of an axisymmetric vortex sheet. Roll-up of both two dimensional and axisymmetric vortex sheets was computed using the panel methods developed in the report

Direct simulation on nonlinear thermokinetic phenomena due to induced-charge electroosmosis

Previously, we proposed a novel mechanism to produce a nonlinear thermokinetic phenomenon (NTKP) around a metal cylinder in an electrolyte on the basis of analytical discussion. In this study, by using a non-steady direct multi-physics simulation technique based on the Stokes equation coupled with the electroosmotic equation that considers normal diffusion, electrophoresis and thermal diffusion, we directly verify the NTKP and show that the original driving force is the excess ions pressed on the particle by the thermokinetic force and that the NTKP vortex flow around the particle is generated by the interaction between the excess ion and the electric field that is made by the excess ions and/or the Seebeck electric field due to the blocking boundary condition on the wall. Namely, two types of NTKP exist and they are explained in a self-consistent manner by our new theory. In addition, through the discussion of a dielectric particle, we show that the NTKP is a general phenomenon that can be found in both metal and dielectric particles. We believe that our findings provide a new unified viewpoint to understand complex thermokinetic phenomena near metal and dielectric particles.ArticleJOURNAL OF FLUID MECHANICS.855:736-769(2018)journal articl

Active Vector Separation Using Induced Charge Electro- osmosis with Polarizable Obstacle Arrays

Vector separation using obstacle post arrays is promising for various microfluidic applications. Here, we propose a novel active sieve using induced charge electro-osmosis (ICEO). By the multi-physics simulation technique based on the boundary element method combined with a thin electric double-layer approximation, we find that the active sieve having a polarizable post array shows excellent vector separation with dynamic size selectivity owing to the hydrodynamic interactions between the polarizable post array and the target particle. We consider that our separation device is useful for realizing innovative high-throughput biomedical systems with a simple structure.ArticleJOURNAL OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.85(9):094802(2016)journal articl

Edge Vortex Flow Due to Inhomogeneous Ion Concentration

The ion distribution of an open parallel electrode system is not known even though it is often used to measure the electrical characteristics of an electrolyte. Thus, for an open electrode system, we perform a non-steady direct multiphysics simulation based on the coupled Poisson-Nernst-Planck and Stokes equations and find that inhomogeneous ion concentrations at edges cause vortex flows and suppress the anomalous increase in the ion concentration near the electrodes. A surprising aspect of our findings is that the large vortex flows at the edges approximately maintain the ion-conserving condition, and thus the ion distribution of an open electrode system can be approximated by the solution of a closed electrode system that considers the ion-conserving condition rather than the Gouy-Chapman solution, which neglects the ion-conserving condition. We believe that our findings make a significant contribution to the understanding of surface science.ArticleJOURNAL OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.86(4):043401(2017)journal articl

Ion-Conserving Modified Poisson-Boltzmann Theory Considering a Steric Effect in an Electrolyte

The modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck (MPNP) and modified Poisson-Boltzmann (MPB) equations are well known as fundamental equations that consider a steric effect, which prevents unphysical ion concentrations. However, it is unclear whether they are equivalent or not. To clarify this problem, we propose an improved free energy formulation that considers a steric limit with an ion-conserving condition and successfully derive the ion-conserving modified Poisson-Boltzmann (IC-MPB) equations that are equivalent to the MPNP equations. Furthermore, we numerically examine the equivalence by comparing between the IC-MPB solutions obtained by the Newton method and the steady MPNP solutions obtained by the finite-element finite-volume method. A surprising aspect of our finding is that the MPB solutions are much different from the MPNP (IC-MPB) solutions in a confined space. We consider that our findings will significantly contribute to understanding the surface science between solids and liquids.ArticleJOURNAL OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.85(12):124006(2016)journal articl

Suppression of a Brownian noise in a hole-type sensor due to induced-charge electro-osmosis

Noise reduction is essential for a single molecular sensor. Thus, we propose a novel noise reduction mechanism using a hydrodynamic force due to induced-charge electro-osmosis (ICEO) in a hole-type sensor and numerically examine the performance. By the boundary element method that considers both a Brownian motion and an ICEO flow of a polarizable particle, we find that the Brownian noise in a current signal is suppressed significantly in a converging channel because of the ICEO flow around the particle in the presence of an electric field. Further, we propose a simple model that explains a numerically obtained threshold voltage of the suppression of the Brownian noise due to ICEO. We believe that our findings contribute greatly to developments of a single molecular sensor. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.ArticlePHYSICS OF FLUIDS.28(3):032003(2016)journal articl

Elastic Beating Pump Using Induced-Charge Electro-osmosis

Pumping a viscous liquid in a confined space is essential in microfluidic systems because the pressure-driven flow rate through small channels decreases with the third or fourth power of the channel size. Hence, inspired by a cilium's pumping ability in a confined space, we propose an elastic beating pump using a hydrodynamic force due to induced-charge electro-osmosis (ICEO) and numerically examine the pumping performance. By the multiphysics coupled simulation technique based on the boundary element method along with the thin double-layer approximation, we find that by selecting the optimum rigidity of the elastic beam, the ICEO elastic beating pump functions effectively at high frequencies with low applied voltages and shows a large average flow velocity with a remarkably large peak velocity that may be useful to flow a liquid with unexpectedly high viscosity. Furthermore, we propose a simple model that explains the characteristics of the time response behavior of the ICEO elastic beating pump tosome extent. By this analysis, we can considerably contribute to developments in studies on the artificial cilia having versatile functions.ArticleJOURNAL OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.85(10):104001(2016)journal articl

Particle Catcher Using Induced-Charge Electroosmosis

Finding an innovative separation mechanism is a central task in future microfluidic systems. We propose a size-controllable microfluidic catching device that has a face-to-face structure consisting of elastic beams that change the acceptable particle size dynamically by hydrodynamic force due to induced charge electroosmosis (ICEO) in water and numerically examine the novel separation mechanism consisting of catching and releasing motions with size selectivity. By an implicit strongly coupled simulation technique between a fluid and an elastic structure based on the boundary element method, along with the thin double-layer approximation, we find that the catching device works effectively at low applied voltages in a realistic microfluidic channel and shows a wide range dynamic size selectivity. Furthermore, by modeling the ICEO phenomena with elastic motion, we successfully explain the acceptable particle size of the catching device. We believe that our proposed device will contribute to realizing innovative microfluidic systems in the future.ArticleJOURNAL OF THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN.86(1):014401(2017)journal articl

Rectified motion in an asymmetrically structured channel due to induced-charge electrokinetic and thermo-kinetic phenomena

It would be advantageous to move fluid by the gradient of random thermal noises that are omnipresent in the natural world. To achieve this motion, we propose a rectifier that uses a thermal noise along with induced-charge electroosmosis and electrophoresis (ICEO and ICEP) around a metal post cylinder in an asymmetrically structured channel and numerically examine its rectification performance. By the boundary element method combined with the thin double layer approximation, we find that rectified motion occurs in the asymmetrically structured channel due to ICEO and ICEP. Further, by thermodynamical and equivalent circuit methods, we discuss a thermal voltage that drives a rectifier consisting of a fluidic channel of an electrolyte and an impedance as a noise source. Our calculations show that fluid can be moved in the asymmetrically structured channel by the fluctuation of electric fields due to a thermal noise only when there is a temperature difference. In addition, our simple noise argument provides a different perspective for the thermo-kinetic phenomena (around a metal post) which was predicted based on the electrolyte See-beck effect in our previous paper [H. Sugioka, "Nonlinear thermokinetic phenomena due to the Seebeck effect," Langmuir 30, 8621 (2014)]. (C) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.ArticlePHYSICS OF FLUIDS.28(2):022004(2016)journal articl