SINGLE-PHASE MULTI-COMPONENT SIMULATION OF STATIC SHAPE AND DYNAMIC DEFORMATION OF RED BLOOD CELLS USING LATTICE BOLTZMANN METHOD

Lattice Boltzmann Method을 이용한 적혈구의 정적인 모양과 동적변형에 대한 연구

The dependence of the rheological properties of blood on shape, aggregation, and deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) has been investigated using hybrid systems by coupling fluid with solid models. We present a simple approach for simulating blood as a multi-component fluid, in which RBCs are modeled as droplets of acquired biconcave shape. We used lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) due to its excellent numerical stability as a simulation tool. The model enables us to control the droplet static shape by imposing non-isotropic surface tension force on the interface between the two components. The use of the proposed non-isotropic surface tension method is justified by the Norris hypothesis. This hypothesis states that the shape of the RBC is due to a non-uniform interfacial surface tension force acting on the RBC periphery. This force is caused by the unbalanced distribution of the lipid molecules on the surface of the RBC. We also used the same concept to investigate the dynamic shape change of the RBC while flowing through the microvasculature, and to explore the physics of the Fahraeus, and the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effects.