Fluid-structure interaction analysis of blood flow in collapsible channels: Implications for sports performance

Abstract

The flow of fluid in collapsible channels is a topic of great interest with numerous physiological applications, including blood flow during sports and exercise. This paper presents a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model for the study of single-phase fluid flow through a microchannel with a two-sided collapsible wall. The model considers the viscoelastic properties of the fluid and incorporates a moving mesh approach to analyze the deformation of the channel walls. Three distinct modes of motion are observed in the elastic walls involving the elastic walls bulge outward, they undergo a mode-2 deformation characterized by two half-wavelengths along the elastic walls, and the walls indent inward towards the channel. Furthermore, the study shows that as the Weissenberg number increased, there is an associated increase in pressure on the central part of the plate, particularly the major portion. This increase in pressure leads to a decrease in the deflection of the plate. Additionally, the results reveals that the thickness of the plate influences the wall deformations. Thicker plates exhibites minimal deformation compared to thinner plates, which display more pronounced deformations. Moreover, an increase in plate thickness results in a gradual upward (downward) movement of the lowest point of the upper wall (the highest point of the down wall), eventually shifting towards the midpoint of the elastic walls.