Microchannel fluid behavior using micropolar fluid theory

In this paper, we describe microchannel fluid behavior using a numerical model based on micropolar fluid theory and experimentally verify the model using micromachined channels. The micropolar fluid theory augments the laws of classical continuum mechanics by incorporating the effects of fluid molecules on the continuum. The behavior of fluids was studied using surface micromachined rectangular metallic pipette arrays. A downstream port for static pressure measurement was used to eliminate entrance effects. The numerical model of the micropolar fluid theory compares favorably with the experimental data.