A non-linear Maxwell model of biofluids: application to normal blood

Area of Science:

• Rheology
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Understanding blood flow dynamics is crucial for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.
• Transient shear stress responses are key indicators of blood's viscoelastic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the predictive accuracy of a Non-Linear Maxwell model against experimental measurements of transient shear stress in normal blood.
• To validate the model's assumption that viscosity is dependent on the material's instantaneous structural state.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modified viscometer equipped with dynamic balance torque monitoring to eliminate apparatus inertia effects.
• Collected transient shear stress response data for normal blood at moderate shear rates.
• Compared experimental data with predictions from the Non-Linear Maxwell model.

Main Results:

• The Non-Linear Maxwell model demonstrated satisfactory agreement with the experimental measurements of transient shear stress.
• Model variables showed a close relationship to the underlying structure kinetics of the blood.

Conclusions:

• The Non-Linear Maxwell model, incorporating structure-dependent viscosity, effectively captures the transient shear stress behavior of normal blood.
• The study validates the importance of considering material structure kinetics in rheological modeling of biological fluids.