title: Numerical simulations of deformation and aggregation of red blood cells in shear flow.
abstract: This article reviews numerical simulations of red blood cells (RBCs) mainly using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), focusing on the 2-dimensional deformation and aggregation of the cells in simple shear flow. We outline the incorporation of the immersed boundary method into the LBM, in which the membrane forces are obtained from the membrane model. The RBCs are simulated as a single biconcave capsule and as a doublet of biconcave capsules. The transition from swinging to tumbling motions of the RBCs, as induced by reducing the shear rate or increasing the membrane bending stiffness, is discussed. Also discussed is the aggregation tendency of the doublet of RBCs, for which homogenous deformability maintained RBC aggregation, whereas an increased deformability difference resulted in RBC dissociation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bioengineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117576.
authors.forename: Hong-Tong
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Namgung
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117575.
authors.forename: Sangho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological