Dynamics of Pulsed Flow in an Elastic Tube

Abstract

Internal haemorrhage, often leading to cardio-vascular arrest happens to be one of the prime sources of high fatality rates in mammals. We propose a simplistic model of fluid flow to specify the location of the haemorrhagic spots, which, if located accurately, could be operated upon leading to a possible cure. The model we employ for the purpose is inspired by fluid mechanics and consists of a viscous fluid, pumped by a periodic force and flowing through an elastic tube. The analogy is with that of blood, pumped from the heart and flowing through an arte ry or vein. Our results, aided by graphical illustrations, match reasonably well with experimental observations.