Acoustophoresis and fluid dynamics in surface acoustic wave-based acoustofluidics
Open Access
- Author:
- Mao, Zhangming
- Graduate Program:
- Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- March 01, 2017
- Committee Members:
- Francesco Costanzo, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Francesco Costanzo, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Bernhard R. Tittmann, Committee Member
Corina Drapaca, Committee Member
Siyang Zheng, Outside Member
Tony Jun Huang, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- Acoustophoresis
Acoustofluidics
Fluid dynamics
Surface acoustic wave - Abstract:
- Surface acoustic waves (SAW)-based acoustofluidics has been widely used to manipulate solid objects and fluids in many bioengineering and biomedical applications. However, the fundamentals of this technology are not well understood, impeding the further development of the technology. In this dissertation, we fundamentally investigated the motion of solid particles and dynamics of fluids in SAW-based acoustofluidics via theoretical and numerical analysis. Experiments were also conducted to verify the established theory and numerical predictions. Further, new functionalities of the technology have been developed based on the understandings of the platform. Specifically, three main problems are studied, including 1) acoustophoretic motion of particles in standing SAW (SSAW)-driven microfluidic channels, 2) dynamics of flows consisting of various liquids in SSAW-driven microfluidics, 3) acoustophoresis in a SAW-driven square glass tube for nanoparticle manipulation. Through the studies, we expect to broaden our understanding of the physics involved in SAW-based microfluidics. Moreover, theoretical and numerical tools are developed to characterize similar phenomena in SAW-based microfluidics. We also expect that the fundamental and numerical tools will allow us explore new capabilities of the SAW-based microfluidic platform and extend its functionalities and applications.