Fluid viscoelasticity affects ultrasound force field-induced particle transport

Ultrasonic standing wave technology offers an ideal platform for manipulating particles in microfluidics. We study how fluid viscoelasticity and acoustic boundary formation in micro-confinements affect ultrasound-induced perturbations. These perturbations influence acoustic energy density (AED) and consequently particle transport dynamics. Our approach combines theoretical, numerical and experimental methods. Using the Oldroyd-B model for viscoelastic fluids, we advance acoustic radiation force (ARF) formulations of Doinikov et al. ( Phys. Rev. E , vol. 104, no. 6, 2021 a ; Phys. Rev. E , vol. 104, no. 6, 2021 b ) for particles much smaller than the acoustic wavelength. This improved approach allows us to decouple AED and acoustic contrast factor terms in the ARF expression. It also enables us to examine the effects of viscoelastic parameters: $\mu ^*$ (ratio of the viscosity of the viscoelastic fluid to that of base Newtonian fluid) and $De$ (product of fluid relaxation time and actuation frequency) on AED and particle migration. Remarkably, we show that increasing fluid elasticity or $De$ transitions viscoelastic fluids from the energy dissipation (relaxation) mode to the energy storage (frozen) mode, increasing AED. Conversely, increasing viscosity ( $\mu ^*$ ) reduces AED. Thus, our findings suggest that elastic effects accelerate particle migration, while viscous effects decelerate it. Consequently, a viscoelastic fluid-filled micro-confinement acts as an energy dissipation device at low $De$ and an energy storage device at high $De$ . Particle migration can be controlled by adjusting viscoelastic and acoustic parameters, at a fixed power input. Our theoretical and numerical findings are validated with our experimental data. Our study advances the fundamental understanding of particle migration in viscoelastic fluids under ultrasound, and can significantly impact future studies on particle/cell migration in bio-fluids.