Flow manipulation of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically-controlled viscous obstruction

Joseph R. L. Cousins; Akhshay S. Bhadwal; Nigel J. Mottram; Carl V. Brown; Stephen K. Wilson

doi:10.1017/jfm.2024.397

Flow manipulation of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically-controlled viscous obstruction

Joseph R. L. Cousins, Akhshay S. Bhadwal, Nigel J. Mottram, Carl V. Brown, Stephen K. Wilson

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Abstract

The flow of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically controlled viscous obstruction is investigated using both a theoretical model and physical experiments. The viscous obstruction is created by temporarily electrically altering the viscosity of the nematic in a region of the cell across which an electric field is applied. The theoretical model is validated experimentally for a circular cylindrical obstruction, demonstrating user-controlled flow manipulation of an anisotropic liquid within a heterogeneous single-phase microfluidic device.

Original language	English
Article number	R1
Number of pages	11
Journal	Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume	996
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2024.397
Publication status	Published - 30 Sept 2024

Keywords

Low-Reynolds-number flows
Hele-Shaw flows
complex fluids
liquid crystals
lubrication theory

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10.1017/jfm.2024.397Licence: CC BY 4.0

Cousins-etal-JFM-2024-Flow-manipulation-of-a-nematic-liquid-crystal-in-a-Hele-Shaw-cellFinal published version, 991 KBLicence: CC BY 4.0

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title = "Flow manipulation of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically-controlled viscous obstruction",

abstract = "The flow of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically controlled viscous obstruction is investigated using both a theoretical model and physical experiments. The viscous obstruction is created by temporarily electrically altering the viscosity of the nematic in a region of the cell across which an electric field is applied. The theoretical model is validated experimentally for a circular cylindrical obstruction, demonstrating user-controlled flow manipulation of an anisotropic liquid within a heterogeneous single-phase microfluidic device.",

keywords = "Low-Reynolds-number flows, Hele-Shaw flows, complex fluids, liquid crystals, lubrication theory",

author = "Cousins, {Joseph R. L.} and Bhadwal, {Akhshay S.} and Mottram, {Nigel J.} and Brown, {Carl V.} and Wilson, {Stephen K.}",

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doi = "10.1017/jfm.2024.397",

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T1 - Flow manipulation of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically-controlled viscous obstruction

AU - Cousins, Joseph R. L.

AU - Bhadwal, Akhshay S.

AU - Mottram, Nigel J.

AU - Brown, Carl V.

AU - Wilson, Stephen K.

PY - 2024/9/30

Y1 - 2024/9/30

N2 - The flow of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically controlled viscous obstruction is investigated using both a theoretical model and physical experiments. The viscous obstruction is created by temporarily electrically altering the viscosity of the nematic in a region of the cell across which an electric field is applied. The theoretical model is validated experimentally for a circular cylindrical obstruction, demonstrating user-controlled flow manipulation of an anisotropic liquid within a heterogeneous single-phase microfluidic device.

AB - The flow of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically controlled viscous obstruction is investigated using both a theoretical model and physical experiments. The viscous obstruction is created by temporarily electrically altering the viscosity of the nematic in a region of the cell across which an electric field is applied. The theoretical model is validated experimentally for a circular cylindrical obstruction, demonstrating user-controlled flow manipulation of an anisotropic liquid within a heterogeneous single-phase microfluidic device.

KW - Low-Reynolds-number flows

KW - Hele-Shaw flows

KW - complex fluids

KW - liquid crystals

KW - lubrication theory

UR - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11173025

U2 - 10.1017/jfm.2024.397

DO - 10.1017/jfm.2024.397

M3 - Article

SN - 0022-1120

VL - 996

JO - Journal of Fluid Mechanics

JF - Journal of Fluid Mechanics

M1 - R1

ER -

Flow manipulation of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically-controlled viscous obstruction

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