Tunable flow asymmetry and flow rectification with bio-inspired soft leaflets

Abstract

The lymphatic system relies on a complex arrangement of soft valves to pump lymph. While it is widely assumed that the pumping relies on a fluid-structure interaction mechanism, the role of the valve in this mechanism remains poorly understood. A combination of precision desktop-scale experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical modeling are used to reveal the relationship between valve geometry and flow properties, which are harnessed to induce flow rectification and pumping. The findings enhance the understanding of directed flow in living systems and open avenues for bio-inspired microfluidic and soft robotic devices

Topics & Concepts