The Role of Acoustic Streaming in Ultrasound-Enhanced Electrospinning - a FEM Simulation Study

We present a finite element method (FEM)-based simulation model for acoustic streaming and fountain formation. Streaming field predicted by the model shows agreement with experiments in a validation study. After validation, the model is used to predict the acoustic streaming field in our ultrasound-enhanced electrospinning device. The predicted field gives velocity magnitudes in the micrometers per second range. While this appears slow, such a rate is hypothesized to be significant for the process. Finally, surface force driven acoustic streaming is observed by the simulations.