title: Simulation of droplet trains in microfluidic networks.
abstract: We show that in a microfluidic network with low Reynolds numbers, a system can be irreversible due to hysteresis effects. We simulated a network of pipes that was used in a recent experiment. The network consists of one loop connected to input and output pipes. A train of droplets enters the system at a uniform rate, but the droplets may leave the system in a periodic or even a chaotic pattern. The output pattern depends on the time interval between incoming droplets as well as the network geometry. For some parameters, the system is not reversible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology (SUT), P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Djalali Behzad
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seyed-Allaei
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ejtehadi