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A bioinspired apparatus for modeling peristaltic pumping in biophysical flows
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, United States of America.
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
|October 21, 2022
Summary
We developed a new bioinspired apparatus to study peristaltic flows, offering greater modeling flexibility than previous designs. This tool enables detailed biomimetic research on complex fluid dynamics in biological systems.
Area of Science:
- Fluid Dynamics
- Biophysics
- Biomimetics
Background:
- Peristaltic flows are crucial in various biological systems, including blood vessels and the urethra.
- Previous experimental models for peristaltic flows had limited capabilities in replicating complex waveforms and parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel, bioinspired experimental apparatus for studying peristaltic flows.
- To demonstrate the apparatus's advantages in modeling capabilities over existing designs.
- To validate the apparatus for a wide range of flow parameters.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a bioinspired apparatus using stepper motor actuators to deform a membrane.
- Generation of peristaltic flows through controlled membrane deflection.
- Data acquisition and validation against analytical results for high and low Reynolds numbers.
Main Results:
- The apparatus offers a significantly wider range of modeling capabilities, including wavelength, wave speed, amplitude, and complex waveforms.
- Experimental measurements align with analytical predictions for both high (Re > 1) and low (Re < 1) Reynolds number flows.
- The design is not constrained to nondispersive or sinusoidal waves.
Conclusions:
- The developed apparatus is a versatile tool for biomimetic experimental modeling of peristaltic flows.
- It is particularly useful for studying complex waveforms found in biological systems like perivascular vessels, arteries, the cochlea, and the urethra.
- The apparatus shows potential for broader applications beyond biophysical peristaltic studies.
