title: Analysis of electroosmotic flow of power-law fluids in a slit microchannel.
abstract: Electroosmotic flow of power-law fluids in a slit channel is analyzed. The governing equations including the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation, the Cauchy momentum equation, and the continuity equation are solved to seek analytical expressions for the shear stress, dynamic viscosity, and velocity distribution. Specifically, exact solutions of the velocity distributions are explicitly found for several special values of the flow behavior index. Furthermore, with the implementation of an approximate scheme for the hyperbolic cosine function, approximate solutions of the velocity distributions are obtained. In addition, a generalized Smoluchowski velocity is introduced by taking into account contributions due to the finite thickness of the electric double layer and the flow behavior index of power-law fluids. Calculations are performed to examine the effects of kappaH, flow behavior index, double layer thickness, and applied electric field on the shear stress, dynamic viscosity, velocity distribution, and average velocity/flow rate of the electroosmotic flow of power-law fluids.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Singapore.
authors.forename: Cunlu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Emilijk
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zholkovskij
authors.forename: Jacob H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Masliyah
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D053841:Electroosmosis; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D033081:Shear Strength; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions