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Steady fluid flow through veins and collapsible tubes

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Abstract

The theory of flow through elastic-walled tubes, developed previously (Griffiths, 1971a) is applied to steady flow through collapsible tubes, in particular to one model system (Conrad, 1969). The experimental observations are well accounted for. The collapse to small cross-section which sometimes occurs in this and similar systems is a sign that the mean flow velocity locally exceeds the sonic velocity (the velocity of pressure waves on the tube). The consequences for the study of venous blood flow are briefly examined.

Sommaire

La théorie d'écoulement à travers des tubes à parois élastiques développée précédemment (Griffiths, 1971a) est appliquée à l'écoulement à travers des tubes souples, et en particulier à un système modèle (Conrad, 1969). Les observations expérimentales sont bien expliquées. L'effondrement à une petite section qui a lieu quelquefois de ce système et d'autres semblables est un signe que la vélocité moyenne d'écoulement excède localement la vélocité sonique (la vélocité des ondes de pression sur le tube). On examine brièvement les conséquences pour l'étude de l'écoulement de sang veineux.

Zusammenfassung

Die früher entwickelte theorie (Griffiths, 1971a) für Fluss durch Röhren mit elastischen Wänden wird für stetigen Fluss durch zusammenfallbare Röhren angewandt, insbesondere auf ein Modellsystem (Conrad, 1969). Die experimentellen Beobachtungen werden gut begründet. Das zusammenfallen auf kleinen Querschnitt, was zuweilen in diesem und ähnlichen Systemen vorkommt, ist ein Zeichen dafür, dass die durchschnittliche Fliessge schwindigkeit örtlich die Schallgeschwindigkeit (Geschwindigkeit der Wellen des Druckes auf die Röhre) überschreitet. Die Folgen für das Studium des venösen Blutstroms werden kurz untersucht.

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Abbreviations

g :

gravitational acceleration, cm s−2

h :

vertical distance below a given point, cm

OA:

curve shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4

OB:

curve shown in Fig. 4

P :

pressure within collapsible tube, dyn cm−2 or mm Hg

P 1 :

pressure just upstream of collapsible tube (see Fig. 1), dyn cm−2 or mm Hg

P 2 :

pressure just downstream of collapsible tube (see Fig. 1), dyn cm−2 or mm Hg

P c :

see Fig. 4, dyn cm−2 or mm Hg

P′ c :

see Fig. 5, dyn cm−2 or mm Hg

P e :

external pressure applied to collapsible tube, dyn cm−2 or mm Hg

Q :

volume flow rate, cm3 s−1

Q A ,Q B ,Q C :

see Fig. 4, cm3 s−1

r :

effective radius of collapsible tube, cm

Δ:

unavoidable energy loss in flow through collapsible tube (see Fig. 1), erg cm−3 or mm Hg

ρ:

fluid density, g cm−3

References

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Griffiths, D.J. Steady fluid flow through veins and collapsible tubes. Med. & biol. Engng. 9, 597–602 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02474639

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