Kinetic theory based model for blood flow and its viscosity.

Abstract

A kinetic theory based two phase flow model for plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) is shown to explain the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect, the migration of red blood cells from the wall to the center in narrow tubes. The migration is caused by shear induced diffusion which in the kinetic theory based model is computed using a balance of granular temperature, the random kinetic energy for red blood cells per unit mass. The computed hematocrit distribution agrees with experimental measurements using a complete computational fluid dynamic model and an approximate fully developed flow solution. The model predicts the momentum and granular temperature boundary layers. The model computes the observed blood viscosity dependence on diameter and hematocrit.