Fluid Dynamics in Deformable Microchannels

The study of deformable channels finds particular interest among the biofluid dynamists as models to physiological vessels, especially arteries. They serve as a convenient laboratory platform in which experiments can be conducted in controlled settings. This is important when the actual tests on living subjects become difficult to perform due to ethical constraints and poor control over multiple experimental and theoretical parameters. Starting from the earliest findings of William Harvey on the circulation of blood, we have evolved a great extent up to solving complex mathematical models pertaining to arterial mechanics using supercomputers. With the advent of rapid prototyping, robotics, image processing, and high-end digital capabilities, detailed investigations can be carried out in a fast and accurate manner with the least human intervention. To this end, microfluidics technology offers a great advantage due to its inherent capabilities of addressing many fundamental issues that affect the biofluid mechanics in physiological conduits. The present chapter deals with these aspects starting with the history of biofluid mechanics to the state of the art of microfluidics addressing it from both theoretical and experimental perspectives.