| It is common to manipulate fluid flow properties by infusing additives. Such substances typically include particulate matter that influence fluid mechanical properties. While molecular chemistry can lead to such additives, it has become also possible to explicitly manufacture them using 3D printing. In this way mechanical properties of fluids may be controlled by infusing variable-shaped functional particles. Here, a way is presented that serves the purpose of controlling viscosity of a fluid by infusing star shaped functional particles. These functional particles are 3D printed using a star shape with variable number of legs and leg lengths. Explicit molecular dynamics simulations of the fluid with infused particles are performed for a variety of structural parameters. The dimensions are chosen with the condition of being easily manufactured. The relation and change of viscosity with respect to the size, shape and packing fraction (in a control volume) is analyzed. In connection to the viscosity's behavior, the structure, diffusion, variation of stress and pressure are also discussed. |
