Numerical Methods in Modelling of Red Blood Cellflow Behaviour Through a Specific Stacking Pattern

The dynamics of red blood cells (RBCs) is one of the major aspects of the cardiovascular system that has been studied intensively in the past few decades. Using computational fluid dynamics, complex nonlinear fluid flows have been modeled. The dynamics of biconcave RBCs are thought to have major influences in cardiovascular diseases and other problems associated with cardiovascular flow behaviour, and the determination of blood rheology and properties. Most reported computational models have been confined to the behaviour of a single RBC in 2-dimensional domains, under physiological flow conditions. This work investigates a particular stacking pattern in analyzing the RBC flow behavior under physiological flow conditions, using the D2Q9 lattice Boltzmann numerical method created using Matlab. Prior to the analysis the Matlab script was benchmarked using the Poiseuille flow and the flow around the cross-section of a cylinder, after which the accuracy of the method used was determined. The benchmarks showed that the lattice Boltzmann code had minimal error. The accuracy was determined using the data obtained from Matlab and a created excel program. It also showed that the lattice Boltzmann method was of the first order, which corresponds with results existing in literatures. The analysis of the stacking pattern showed how RBC flows through the chosen stacking pattern, and the results are shown.