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Updated: May 20, 2026
10:14
Fabrication and Operation of Acoustofluidic Devices Supporting Bulk Acoustic Standing Waves for Sheathless Focusing of Particles
Published on: March 6, 2016
Acoustofluidics 15: streaming with sound waves interacting with solid particles
1Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1453, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|June 30, 2012
Summary
This tutorial explores how ultrasonic standing waves manipulate spherical and non-spherical particles in microfluidic systems. It details acoustic streaming phenomena driven by nonlinear fluid mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Acoustofluidics
- Microfluidics
- Nonlinear Fluid Mechanics
Background:
- Acoustofluidics utilizes ultrasonic standing waves for particle manipulation in microfluidic systems.
- Acoustic streaming is a key phenomenon driven by acoustic fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the interaction of acoustic fields with solid particles, focusing on standing waves and acoustic streaming.
- To provide instructive material on the behavior of spherical and non-spherical particles in acoustic fields.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nonlinear fluid mechanics using singular perturbation methods.
- Study of acoustic streaming phenomena resulting from nonlinear interactions.
Main Results:
- Detailed examination of spherical particles at velocity antinodes, nodes, and intermediate positions within standing waves.
- Discussion of fluid mechanics alterations due to deviations from particle sphericity.
Conclusions:
- The study provides an in-depth analysis of acoustic field interactions with particles in microfluidics.
- While instructive, the complexity of the subject means this tutorial is not exhaustive.
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