Numerical analysis of friction factors in smooth and rough microchannels

Based on the available literature, the researchers are divided that transition in smooth channel occurs in low Reynolds region or not, and various experimental results contradicts each other. Also, the effect of surface roughness has any considerable effects on early transition behavior or not. The numerical procedures are used these days and various researches are ongoing with the help of numerical methods on studying the flow characteristics. The author aims in understanding the flow behavior in low Reynolds regime between 100–1400 for smooth and rough channel with roughness to hydraulic diameter ratio of 0.264. The flow remains in laminar regime for smooth channel and rough channel, and no significant effect of roughness obtains in both the cases. The early transition effects are not seen in the analysis. The friction factor decreases with increase in Reynolds number.