Numerical Multiphysics Modeling of Microdroplet Motion Dynamics in Digital Microfluidic Systems

In this paper a novel numerical algorithm is proposed for modeling the transient motion of microdroplets in digital microfluidic systems. The new methodology combines the effects of the electrostatic and hydrodynamic pressures to calculate the actuating and opposing forces and the moving boundary of the microdroplet. The proposed model successfully predicts transient motion of the microdroplet in digital microfluidic systems, which is crucial in the design, control and fabrication of such devices. The results of such an analysis are in agreement with the expected trend.