Hydraulic Resistance And Compliance

Abstract The concept of hydraulic resistance is central in characterizing and designing microfluidic channels in lab-on-a-chip systems. In this chapter we study both fundamental and applied aspects of hydraulic resistance. We also introduce the concept of compliance, i.e. change in volume as a function of pressure, which is the hydraulic analogue of electrical capacitance. Just as electrical resistance is intimately connected to dissipation of energy in the form of Joule heating, hydraulic resistance is due to viscous dissipation of mechanical energy into heat by internal friction in the fluid.