title: Fluid-structure interaction problems in bio-fluid mechanics: a numerical study of the motion of an isolated particle freely suspended in channel flow.
abstract: In this paper a problem belonging to the moving boundary class is tackled with a 2-D application of computational fluid dynamics techniques. The motion of an isolated rigid particle freely suspended in an incompressible Newtonian fluid in a narrow channel is studied numerically at a low Reynolds number, yet different from zero. The actual problem consists of two coupled problems: the motion of the viscous fluid and that of the rigid particle suspended and convected with the fluid. The full Navier-Stokes equations (i.e. both transient and convective terms are included) are solved in the fluid domain by means of the finite element method, while the motion of the particle is determined on the basis of a rigid act of motion. Results from simulations corresponding to differential initial positions of the particle are shown in this paper: they allow one to study the rotational motions of the particle as well as its displacements. The goal of the paper is to analyse the lateral displacement behaviour of the particle, already observed in experimental studies in microcirculation. In particular, lateral migrations are supposed to be due to inertial forces acting in the fluid around the moving particle combined with the proximity of the resting wall (wall effect). Preliminary results are in fairly good agreement with those available in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pietrabissa
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Montevecchi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012984:Software; D012985:Software Design; D013997:Time Factors