Flow in a bifurcating tube system typifying a major bronchial bifurcation is studied experimentally with a two color, two velocity component laser Doppler anemometer. The flow loop is composed of a pumping station, flow stratifiers and a constant head pressure tank; it can accommodate steady, pulsatile or oscillatory flow. The test section is a symmetric bifurcation of constant cross sectional area and has a branching angle of 70 deg. The test section is a cast of clear silicon rubber in a plexiglass mold that was milled on a numerically controlled milling machine. The flow division ratio from the parent to daughter branches is about unity. Steady flow results that model the inspiratory phase at Reynolds numbers of 518, 1036 and 2089, corresponding to Dean numbers of 98, 196 and 395, show that in the bifurcation plane velocity profiles in the daughter branches are skewed toward the inner wall. In the transverse plane, “m” shaped velocity profiles are found with low velocity at the center. Secondary flow patterns, which are responsible for such phenomena, are first observed at the axial position where the flow begins to turn. Flow separation was not observed at any point in the bifurcation.
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November 1994
Research Papers
Steady Inspiratory Flow in a Model Symmetric Bifurcation
Yao Zhao,
Yao Zhao
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260
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Baruch B. Lieber
Baruch B. Lieber
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260
Search for other works by this author on:
Yao Zhao
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260
Baruch B. Lieber
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260
J Biomech Eng. Nov 1994, 116(4): 488-496 (9 pages)
Published Online: November 1, 1994
Article history
Received:
December 6, 1992
Revised:
October 28, 1993
Online:
March 17, 2008
Citation
Zhao, Y., and Lieber, B. B. (November 1, 1994). "Steady Inspiratory Flow in a Model Symmetric Bifurcation." ASME. J Biomech Eng. November 1994; 116(4): 488–496. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2895800
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