Numerical Simulation of the Flow Field and Shear Stress in a Microfluidic System

Numerical simulations were performed on the three-dimensional model of a microfluidic system, which includes two input channels converging and forming a single output. The primary aim of the investigation was the characterization of the flow field, namely velocity and shear stress, which emerge between the two different types of input fluids with different viscosity and density. The shear strength acting on the fluids plays an important role in activating the von Willebrand factor (VWF), a glycoprotein essential during blood hemostasis. The main application of the designed microfluidic cell will be the experimental investigation of the effect of shear stress on the activation of VWF. For the interpretation of the experimental results, the numerical simulations are crucial in providing the necessary understanding of the flow field and the magnitude of shear stress, which acts on these molecules