Biomaterial Database

Numerical simulations of pulsatile blood flow using a new constitutive model. 2006

Jiannong Fang, and Robert G Owens

GEOLEP-ICARE-ENAC, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

In the present paper we use a new constitutive equation for whole human blood [R.G. Owens, A new microstructure-based constitutive model for human blood, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. (2006), to appear] to investigate the steady, oscillatory and pulsatile flow of blood in a straight, rigid walled tube at modest Womersley numbers. Comparisons are made with the experimental results of Thurston [Elastic effects in pulsatile blood flow, Microvasc. Res. 9 (1975), 145-157] for the pressure drop per unit length against volume flow rate and oscillatory flow rate amplitude. Agreement in all cases is very good. In the presentation of the numerical and experimental results we discuss the microstructural changes in the blood that account for its rheological behaviour in this simple class of flows. In this context, the concept of an apparent complex viscosity proves to be useful.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008955	Models, Cardiovascular	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the cardiovascular system, processes, or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers and other electronic equipment.	Cardiovascular Model,Cardiovascular Models,Model, Cardiovascular
D011673	Pulsatile Flow	Rhythmic, intermittent propagation of a fluid through a BLOOD VESSEL or piping system, in contrast to constant, smooth propagation, which produces laminar flow.	Flow, Pulsating,Perfusion, Pulsatile,Flow, Pulsatile,Flows, Pulsatile,Flows, Pulsating,Perfusions, Pulsatile,Pulsatile Flows,Pulsatile Perfusion,Pulsatile Perfusions,Pulsating Flow,Pulsating Flows
D001783	Blood Flow Velocity	A value equal to the total volume flow divided by the cross-sectional area of the vascular bed.	Blood Flow Velocities,Flow Velocities, Blood,Flow Velocity, Blood,Velocities, Blood Flow,Velocity, Blood Flow
D001809	Blood Viscosity	The internal resistance of the BLOOD to shear forces. The in vitro measure of whole blood viscosity is of limited clinical utility because it bears little relationship to the actual viscosity within the circulation, but an increase in the viscosity of circulating blood can contribute to morbidity in patients suffering from disorders such as SICKLE CELL ANEMIA and POLYCYTHEMIA.	Blood Viscosities,Viscosities, Blood,Viscosity, Blood
D004903	Erythrocyte Aggregation	The formation of clumps of RED BLOOD CELLS under low or non-flow conditions, resulting from the attraction forces between the red blood cells. The cells adhere to each other in rouleaux aggregates. Slight mechanical force, such as occurs in the circulation, is enough to disperse these aggregates. Stronger or weaker than normal aggregation may result from a variety of effects in the ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE or in BLOOD PLASMA. The degree of aggregation is affected by ERYTHROCYTE DEFORMABILITY, erythrocyte membrane sialylation, masking of negative surface charge by plasma proteins, etc. BLOOD VISCOSITY and the ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE are affected by the amount of erythrocyte aggregation and are parameters used to measure the aggregation.	Erythrocyte Aggregation, Intravascular,Agglutination, Intravascular,Intravascular Agglutination,Intravascular Erythrocyte Aggregation,Rouleaux Formation, Erythrocyte,Agglutinations, Intravascular,Aggregation, Erythrocyte,Aggregation, Intravascular Erythrocyte,Aggregations, Erythrocyte,Aggregations, Intravascular Erythrocyte,Erythrocyte Aggregations,Erythrocyte Aggregations, Intravascular,Erythrocyte Rouleaux Formation,Erythrocyte Rouleaux Formations,Formation, Erythrocyte Rouleaux,Formations, Erythrocyte Rouleaux,Intravascular Agglutinations,Intravascular Erythrocyte Aggregations,Rouleaux Formations, Erythrocyte
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D018056	Hemorheology	The deformation and flow behavior of BLOOD and its elements i.e., PLASMA; ERYTHROCYTES; WHITE BLOOD CELLS; and BLOOD PLATELETS.	Hemorrheology