Modelling the fluid-flow inside a microchannel under impact loads

Abstract This work presents a simple model of the flow generated in microchannels when the upper lid has a vertical deformation that depends on time and space. This model is able to capture the dynamics of the flow generated for two fundamental cases: full displacement of the upper lid and the flow generated by an impactor. The results for these cases have been compared with full 3D simulations with a moving mesh and experiments providing very accurate results. Once the model is validated, it is used for the analysis of the effect of the different parameters that control the flow, and for providing general laws for the non-dimensional energy consumed up to a time t 0 in which the microchannel reaches half of its initial height. Finally, it is demonstrated that the general laws obtained for the non-dimensional energy are fully independent of the closing laws used.