Inertial synchronization of particles in the duct with elliptical centreline

Finite-sized particles in fluid flow through a 3D curved duct migrate to attractors in the cross-section due to inertial focusing. This enables the size-based particle sorting due to hydrodynamic forces, useful in biomedical and industrial applications. The particle attractors varies in cross-section depending on particle size and duct curvature. We study the particles in the duct with an elliptical centreline and uniform rectangular cross section to investigate synchronization effects. The elliptical geometry causes periodic changes in curvature, leading to varying attractors. Under phase-locking, the particles are focused simultaneously within cross-section and along the duct due to inertial and geometrical effects.