Title | Controlling Viscous Fingering Using Time-Dependent Strategies. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Zheng, Z, Kim, H, Stone, HA |
Journal | Phys Rev Lett |
Volume | 115 |
Issue | 17 |
Pagination | 174501 |
Date Published | 2015 Oct 23 |
ISSN | 1079-7114 |
Abstract | <p>Control and stabilization of viscous fingering of immiscible fluids impacts a wide variety of pressure-driven multiphase flows. We report theoretical and experimental results on a time-dependent control strategy by manipulating the gap thickness b(t) in a lifting Hele-Shaw cell in the power-law form b(t)=b(1)t(1/7). Experimental results show good quantitative agreement with the predictions of linear stability analysis. By choosing the value of a single time-independent control parameter, we can either totally suppress the viscous fingering instability or maintain a series of nonsplitting viscous fingers during the fluid displacement process. In addition to the gap thickness of a Hele-Shaw cell, time-dependent control strategies can, in principle, also be placed on the injection rate, viscosity of the displaced fluid, and interfacial tension between the two fluids.</p> |
DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.174501 |
Alternate Journal | Phys Rev Lett |
PubMed ID | 26551117 |