Laminar regime transition for blood flow in tubes 1

Abstract

Using the Metzner and Reed method of analyzing non-Newtonian fluid flow behavior, which is based on the Rabinowitsch-Mooney equation, friction factor-Reynolds number plots were made for whole blood flowing in rigid tubes. It was found for laminar flow that blood behaved in a similar manner to other non-biologic, non-Newtonian fluids if the Reynolds number is the generalized expression proposed by Metzner and Reed. For seven different blood samples and five different tube sizes for each blood sample, it was possible to correlate all the data in a single laminar flow relationship, $\mathit{f}=16\mathrm{/}{\mathit{N}}_{\mathrm{Re}}$ up to Reynolds number 2400 where the departure from laminar flow was abruptly evident.