A study on the formation of higher-order flow-induced structured phase from wormlike micelles in surfactant solutions at high shear rates

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Flow patterns and a formation of higher-order flow-induced structured phase are investigated experimentally in the microchannel under a high shear rate flow of wormlike micelle solutions past arrays of microposts. The viscous streaks of higher-order structured phase formed in the flow were observed directly with a phase-contrast microscopy. With increase in flow rate, the starting point of higher-order structured phase formation is shifted to more upstream position in the channel until a critical flow rate is reached. Steady flow patterns are observed at lower flow rates, which are altered drastically as flow rate increases accompanied by a pulsating entry flow with narrow path into the gap between microposts.