Characterizing Flow Through Cylindrical Constriction Devices

Project Description

When blood flows through a constriction, red blood cells within the whole blood can become damaged (hemolysis). This project involves the study of fluid dynamics through cylindrical constriction devices. A glycerol-water mixture, designed to mimic the behavior of human blood, will be driven by a syringe pump through the constriction device. A high precision load cell, adapted for use with the pump, is employed to measure the force, and thereby the pressure inside the syringe. The project further encompasses the use of computational fluid dynamics (COMSOL) to model the flow within the constriction device, comparing these simulations with experimental results. The project will then proceed to computationally simulate human blood as the working fluid. This will offer insights into the experiences of red blood cells traversing the device, thereby contributing to the larger goal of accurately modeling hemolysis in fluid flows.

Mentors

Alice White & Oliver McRae

Project Timeline

Weeks 1-2: Lab orientation, learn to operate syringe pump and load cell, prepare glycerol-water mixtures, start experiments with cylindrical constriction devices, and basic training in COMSOL for fluid dynamics.
Weeks 3-4: Continue experiments and simulations, compare experimental data with simulations. Plan for human blood simulations.
Weeks 5-6: Implement and interpret human blood simulations, complete data analysis, write report, and prepare final presentation.