Biomedical Engineering

BIOPHYSICS

Exercises V Biofluid Mechanics

Instructor: Graciela Salum

1. Wall shear stress may be important in the development of various vascular disorders. Gilmore et al.
have published a related paper in the American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology,
volume 288, in February 2005. In that article, the authors published the measured values of retinal arteriolar
diameter and blood velocity in arterioles (see the values in Table 1.1). a) Estimate the wall shear stress in
an arteriole in the retinal circulation. The viscosity of blood is 0.0035 Ns/m2. b) Estimate the shearing strain
rate.

2. Determine the wall shearing stress for a fluid, having a viscosity of 3.5 cP, flowing with an average
velocity of 9 cm/s in a 3-mm-diameter tube. What is the corresponding Reynolds number? The fluid density
is 1.06 g/cm3. Note: 1 cP = 1 m Pa s
3. Whole blood (assume = 0.0035 Ns/m2) is placed in a concentric cylinder viscometer. The gap width
is 1 mm and the inner cylinder radius is 30 mm. Estimate the wall shear stress in the fluid. Assume the
angular velocity of the outer cylinder to be 60 rpm.
4. Estimate the Reynolds number for blood flow in a retinal arteriole, using the published values from
Gilmore et al. Assume that the blood density is 1060 kg/m3. Is there any concern that blood flow in the
human retina will become turbulent?
5. The following data apply to the steady flow of blood through a long horizontal tube: tube diameter
= 3 mm, blood viscosity = 0.0035 Ns/m2, blood density = 1060 kg/m3, mean velocity = 4 cm/s. a) Is the
flow laminar or turbulent? b) Calculate, if possible, the shearing stress at the tube wall.
6. The following data apply to the steady flow of blood through a long horizontal tube: tube diameter
= 3 mm, blood viscosity = 0.0045 Ns/m2, blood density = 1060 kg/m3, mean velocity = 3 cm/s. a) Is the
flow laminar or turbulent? b) Calculate, if possible, the shearing stress at the tube wall.
7. The following data apply to the steady flow of blood through a long horizontal tube: tube diameter
= 1 mm, blood viscosity = 0.0030 Ns/m2, blood density = 1060 kg/m3, mean velocity = 8 cm/s. a) Is the
flow laminar or turbulent? b) Calculate, if possible, the shearing stress at the tube wall.
8. Data for the apparent viscosity of average human blood, at normal body temperature of 37 C, varies
with shear strain rate, as shown in the following table. a) Is blood a non-newtonian fluid? b) If so, what
type of fluid is it? c) How do these viscosities compare with plain water at 37C? (White)

9. Oil flows in a pipe 80 mm bore diameter with a mean velocity of 0.4 m/s. The density is 890 kg/m3
and the viscosity is 0.075 Ns/m2. Show that the flow is laminar.
10. Deduce the equation of the viscosity that obtains the viscometer ( in function of the torque and the
angular velocity).
11. Assuming constant pressure difference of 100 mmHg, which resistance value will raise the blood
flow rate to 25 L/min? Note: 1 mmHg=133,3Pa.
12. Assuming constant pressure difference of 100 mmHg, a flow of 1 mL/min, viscosity of 0.0035 Ns/m2,
calculate the internal radius in a vessel with a length of 10 cm.
13. Idem 12 with a flow of 16 mL/min.
14. Idem 12 with a flow of 256 mL/min.