Aaron Fogelson, University of Utah

Multi-velocity Viscoelastic Flow in Blood Clotting and other Physiological Systems: Models and Numerics

Friday Febuary 8th, 4pm, Phillips 332
(refreshments served in Phillips 330 starting at 3:30)

Abstract: Understanding the interactions of moving fluid with distributed viscoelastic networks is an issue that permeates much of physiology. Such interactions are critical in intravascular blood clotting where both the aggregating platelets and the fibrin gel which surrounds them behave as viscoelastic materials, and they both form in and interact with the moving blood. We have developed multiphase models of blood clotting which capture some of these interactions, but these models have limitations that arise because the fluid and the viscoelastic materials move in the same velocity field. 'Multi-velocity' models in which relative motion between fluid and viscoelastic materials is allowed should ease these limitations. We discuss the formulation of such models, and the substantial computational challenges they present. We discuss new robust and efficient methods for the viscosity-dominated limit of the models, as well as our ideas for extending these methods to handle significant inertial and elastic effects.