Centrifuges and inertial shear forces.
Centrifuges are often used in biological studies for 1 x g control samples in space flight microgravity experiments as well as in ground based research. Using centrifugation as a tool to generate an Earth like acceleration introduces unwanted inertial shear forces to the sample. Depending on the centrifuge and the geometry of the experiment hardware used these shear forces may contribute as much as 99% to the total force acting on the cells or tissues. The inertial shear force artifact should be dealt with for future experiment hardware development for Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) as well as for the interpretation of previous spaceflight and on-ground research data.
van Loon
Jack J W A
JJ
Dutch Experiment Support Center (DESC), Oral Biology, ACTA Vrije Universiteit & Univ. van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.vanloon@vumc.nl
Folgering
Erik H T E
EH
Bouten
Carlijn V C
CV
Smit
Theo H
TH
D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006112:Gravitation; D033081:Shear Strength; D013026:Space Flight; D014732:Vibration; D014893:Weightlessness