SPH-DEM approach to numerically simulate the deformation of three‑dimensional RBCs in non‑uniform capillaries
Article
Article Title | SPH-DEM approach to numerically simulate the deformation of three‑dimensional RBCs in non‑uniform capillaries |
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ERA Journal ID | 42225 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Polwaththe-Gallage, Hasitha-Nayanajith (Author), Saha, Suvash C. (Author), Sauret, Emily (Author), Flower, Robert (Author), Senadeera, Wijitha (Author) and Gu, YuanTong (Author) |
Journal Title | BioMedical Engineering OnLine |
Journal Citation | 15 (2 (Supplement)), pp. 349-370 |
Article Number | 161 |
Number of Pages | 22 |
Year | 2016 |
Publisher | BioMed Central Ltd. |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 1475-925X |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-016-0256-0 |
Web Address (URL) | http://biomedical-engineering-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12938-016-0256-0 |
Abstract | Background: Blood continuously flows through the blood vessels in the human body. When blood flows through the smallest blood vessels, red blood cells (RBCs) in the blood exhibit various types of motion and deformed shapes. Computational modeling techniques can be used to successfully predict the behaviour of the RBCs in capillaries. In this study, we report the application of a meshfree particle approach to model and predict the motion and deformation of three-dimensional RBCs in capillaries. Methods: An elastic spring network based on the discrete element method (DEM) is employed to model the three-dimensional RBC membrane. The haemoglobin in the RBC and the plasma in the blood are modelled as smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) particles. For validation purposes, the behaviour of a single RBC in a simple shear flow is examined and compared against experimental results. Then simulations are carried out to predict the behaviour of RBCs in a capillary; (i) the motion of five identical RBCs in a uniform capillary, (ii) the motion of five identical RBCs with different bending stiffness (Kb) values in a stenosed capillary, (iii) the motion of three RBCs in a narrow capillary. Finally five identical RBCs are employed to determine the critical diameter of a stenosed capillary. Results: Validation results showed a good agreement with less than 10% difference.From the above simulations, the following results are obtained; (i) RBCs exhibit different deformation behaviours due to the hydrodynamic interaction between them.(ii) Asymmetrical deformation behaviours of the RBCs are clearly observed when the bending stiffness (Kb) of the RBCs is changed. (iii) The model predicts the ability of the RBCs to squeeze through smaller blood vessels. Finally, from the simulations, the critical diameter of the stenosed section to stop the motion of blood flow is predicted. |
Keywords | blood flow, computational biomechanics, critical diameter, discrete element method, meshfree method, multiple red blood cells, smoothed particle hydrodynamics |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 401204. Computational methods in fluid flow, heat and mass transfer (incl. computational fluid dynamics) |
Public Notes | This is an open access journal that is found at: http://biomedical-engineering-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1... |
Byline Affiliations | Queensland University of Technology |
Australian Red Cross, Australia | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q3wwy/sph-dem-approach-to-numerically-simulate-the-deformation-of-three-dimensional-rbcs-in-non-uniform-capillaries
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