Bistability in a simple fluid network due to viscosity contrast

TL;DR

This paper investigates how viscosity differences in a simple fluid network can lead to multiple stable states, demonstrating hysteresis and bistability through theory and experiments, with implications for various flow systems.

Contribution

It presents the first combined theoretical and experimental demonstration of bistability caused by viscosity contrast in a simple fluid network.

Findings

Hysteresis and bistability are theoretically predicted.

Experimental confirmation using sucrose solution and water.

Potential applications in blood flow and microfluidics.

Abstract

We study the existence of multiple equilibrium states in a simple fluid network using Newtonian fluids and laminar flow. We demonstrate theoretically the presence of hysteresis and bistability, and we confirm these predictions in an experiment using two miscible fluids of different viscosity--sucrose solution and water. Possible applications include bloodflow, microfluidics, and other network flows governed by similar principles.