Topology-driven analysis of wall-roughness effects in microfluidic micro-electro-mechanical systems cells
Abstract
Abstract:
Microfluidic micro‑electro‑mechanical systems devices are widely used in biochemical sensing, electrochemical analysis, and integrated lab‑on‑a‑chip systems. In these applications, channel‑wall topology strongly affects overall hydrodynamic performance. Existing studies generally examine individual roughness patterns or isolated surface geometries under dissimilar numerical and experimental conditions, which hinders direct quantitative comparison of hydraulic responses across different topological designs, leaving a gap in understanding how shapes influence fluid behavior. Here, we developed a unified computational framework to systematically compare representative rectangular, sawtooth, ridge, and k‑step staircase wall profiles under identical laminar flow conditions. The methodological approach relied on computational fluid dynamics simulations, which were complemented by independent experimental wettability measurements. This combined methodology enabled us to definitively distinguish geometry‑driven hydrodynamic effects from material‑dependent surface properties. The qualitative results indicate that distinct wall shapes fundamentally alter local flow dynamics. The results indicate that staircase‑type topologies can redistribute velocity while retaining an effective flow passage. Furthermore, the detailed structural arrangement of the wall plays a decisive role in determining the overall hydraulic resistance. In conclusion, the proposed framework provides practical guidance for the topology‑based design and optimization of microfluidic micro‑electro‑mechanical systems devices. This research establishes a solid theoretical baseline and identifies analytical limitations that should be addressed in future multiscale hydrodynamic studies.
Document Type: Original article
Cited as: Poplevka, A., Karaseov, P., Kopanichuk, I., Trofimenko, E., Kondrateva, A. Topology‑driven analysis of wall‑roughness effects in microfluidic micro‑electro‑mechanical systems cells. Capillarity, 2026, 20(3): 66‑85. https://doi.org/10.46690/capi.2026.09.02
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46690/capi.2026.09.02Keywords:
Microfluidic system, fluid dynamics, topology, roughness, hydrodynamic optimization, wettability, flow redistributionReferences
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anna Poplevka, Platon Karaseov, Ilia Kopanichuk, Elena Trofimenko, Anastasia Kondrateva
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