Bridging shallow flow theory and microfluidics: The role of confinement in shaping wake lengths and pressure loss
Flow past obstacle clusters in micro-channels is central to a wide range of microfluidic applications, yet its fundamental hydrodynamics remain poorly understood under strong geometric confinement. No-slip boundary conditions on all walls enforce inherently three-dimensional (3D) flow structures in fully confined micro-channels, fundamentally altering wake formation, momentum transport, and drag mechanisms. A combined experimental and […]