The escalating demand for efficient particle separation in microfluidic systems necessitates innovative design solutions. This study presents a simulation-based topology optimization method to passively separate particles within a 2D microfluidic channel, eliminating the need for external forces. Leveraging a coupled Navier-Stokes solver and particle advection simulation, the framework iteratively refines the channel's geometry by minimizing an objective function quantifying particle mis-sorting. Our approach computationally generated optimal, manufacturable topologies, demonstrating a peak sorting efficiency of 0.6667 (66.67%) achieved by the second iteration, which then stabilized in subse... More >

The rapid global deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology presents a significant and often overlooked challenge: the effective management of end-of-life (EoL) solar panels. This issue is particularly acute in developing and emerging economies, where established reverse logistics infrastructure is often lacking. A critical limitation in current academic literature is the oversimplified forecasting of EoL waste streams, which fails to account for the dynamic interplay of socio-economic, policy, and environmental variables. To bridge this gap, we propose a novel decision support system (DSS) for the design of a sustainable reverse logistics network. Our system uniquely integrates a hybr... More >