Oscillatory flow and mass transport in a curved tube

Abstract

Transport of soluble material is analysed for volume-cycled oscillatory flow in a curved tube. The equations of motion are solved using a regular perturbation method for small ratio of tube radius to radius of curvature and order unity amplitude over a range of the Womersley parameter. The transport equation is similarly solved by a regular perturbation scheme where uniform steady end concentrations and no wall flux are assumed. The time-average axial transport of solute is calculated. There is substantial modification of transport compared to the straight-tube case and the results are interpreted with respect to pulmonary gas exchange.