Numerical modeling of the red blood cell deformation in the capillary

The aim of this study was to investigate the motion and deformation of the red blood cell in a capillary using numerical modeling. The presented model depended on three main parameters including the blood flow suspension, the cell membrane, and cytoplasm. The horizontal, vertical, and angular motions of the cell were studied in a tubular capillary with 60 micro meter length and 12 micro meter diameter. The membrane was modeled as a hyper elastic material and the cell layer was assumed as a thin thickness material. The blood behavior was laminar, incompressible, and viscous. Furthermore, it was considered as a suspension including plasma and platelets. The results including initial motion of the cell, the path, the pressure distribution on cell, the cell deformation, and related contours were presented. The results show that the maximum deformation occurred in the beginning of the motion at concave side of the cell regardless of its position. Furthermore, the cell velocity was nearly uniform at the end of the capillary and no considerable deformation was noted in the cell

Numerical modeling of the red blood cell deformation in the capillary Keywords:

Red blood cell , deformation , membrane