Shear Stress Zone Research Articles

A microfluidic shear device that accommodates parallel high and low stress zones within the same culturing chamber.

Fluid shear stress (FSS) plays a critical role in regulating endothelium function and maintaining vascular homeostasis. Current microfluidic devices for studying FSS effects on cells either separate high shear stress zone and low shear stress zone into different culturing chambers, or arranging the zones serially along the flow direction, which complicates subsequent data interpretation. In this paper, we report a diamond shaped microfluidic shear device where the high shear stress zone and the low shear stress zone are arranged in parallel within one culturing chamber. Since the zones with different shear stress magnitudes are aligned normal to the flow direction, the cells in one stress group are not substantially affected by the flow-induced cytokine/chemokine releases by cells in the other group. Cell loading experiments using human umbilical vein endothelial cells show that the device is able to reveal stress magnitude-dependent and loading duration-dependent cell responses. The co-existence of shear stress zones with varied magnitudes within the same culturing chamber not only ensures that all the cells are subject to the identical culturing conditions, but also allows the resemblance of the differential shear stress pattern in natural arterial conditions. The device is expected to provide a new solution for studying the effects of heterogeneous hemodynamic patterns in the onset and progression of various vascular diseases.

Cell-matrix adhesion characterization using multiple shear stress zones in single stepwise microchannel

This paper presents a cell chip capable to characterize cell-matrix adhesion by monitoring cell detachment rate. The proposed cell chip can supply multiple levels of shear stress in single stepwise microchannel. As epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), one of hallmarks of cancer metastasis is closely associated to the interaction with extracelluar matrix (ECM), we took advantage of two lung cancer cell models with different adhesion properties to ECM depending their epithelial or mesenchymal properties, including the pair of lung cancer cells with (A549sh) or without E-cadherin expression (A549sh-Ecad), which would be optimal model to examine the alteration of adhesion properties after EMT induction. The cell-matrix adhesion resisting to shear stress appeared to be remarkably differed between lung cancer cells. The detachment rate of epithelial-like H358 and mesenchymal-like H460 cells was 53%–80% and 25%–66% in the shear stress range of 34–60 dyn/cm2, respectively. A549sh-Ecad cells exhibits lower detachment rate (5%–9%) compared to A549sh cells (14%–40%). By direct comparison of adhesion between A549sh and A549sh-Ecad, we demonstrated that A549shE-cad to mimic EMT were more favorable to the ECM attachment under the various levels of shear stress. The present method can be applied to quantitative analysis of tumor cell-ECM adhesion.

Predicting the depth of viscous stress peaks in moving salt sheets: Conceptual framework and implications for drilling

Peak-stress zones and pressure anomalies around wellbores through moving salt bodies threaten well integrity. Our study provides a conceptual framework to identify the depth of peak zones of shear stress in moving salt sheets, whether autochthonous or allochthonous. We use analytical methods to determine the principal stress magnitudes and stress-trajectory orientations caused by ductile creep in crystalline salt. The four basic flow types analyzed are Couette, Poiseuille, no-slip squeezing, and free-slip squeezing flow. The analytical formulae specify velocity gradients, shear-stress profiles, and principal stress trajectories. The analytical results are compared with detailed flow visualizations in numerical and physical models of salt tectonics to test our generic conclusions. We offer guidelines to optimize drilling operations in moving salt bodies. The study suggests that stress trajectories and zones of viscous stress peaks in salt layers should be mapped routinely during well planning, in addition to the traditional analysis of elastic stresses and safe mud-pressure windows for controlling wellbore stability.

Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Model With Limiting Shear Stress Behavior Considering Realistic Shear-Thinning and Piezo-Viscous Response

This paper addresses a largely ignored aspect pertaining to the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) traction behavior of fragile lubricants which undergo transition to glassy state at typical EHL contact zone pressures. For such lubricants, a conventional EHL model predicts extremely high and unrealistic values of traction coefficient, especially under near pure rolling conditions where thermal effect is negligible. Therefore, an EHL model incorporating the effect of limiting shear stress and the associated wall slip phenomenon is presented herein. Unlike the other such investigations involving limiting shear stress behavior, the present model employs Carreau-type power-law based models to describe the rheology of lubricants below the limiting shear stress along with realistic pressure-viscosity relationships (WLF and Doolittle-Tait). The use of Carreau-type shear-thinning model in this analysis allows the simultaneous prediction of minimum film thickness and traction coefficient for lubricants which shear-thin in the inlet zone and exhibit limiting shear stress behavior in the contact zone, a feature absent in the existing EHL models utilizing ideal visco-plastic or some other unrealistic rheological model. Using published experimental data pertaining to the shear-thinning and pressure-viscosity response of two fragile lubricants (L100 and LVI260), it has been demonstrated that the present model can explain the appearance of plateau in the experimental traction curve. Also, the influence of shear-thinning parameters and the pressure-viscosity coefficient on the predicted limiting shear stress zone has been studied.

Computer simulation of three-dimensional plaque formation and progression in the carotid artery

Atherosclerosis is becoming the number one cause of death worldwide. In this study, three-dimensional computer model of plaque formation and development for human carotid artery is developed. The three-dimensional blood flow is described by the Navier-Stokes equation, together with the continuity equation. Mass transfer within the blood lumen and through the arterial wall is coupled with the blood flow and is modeled by a convection-diffusion equation. The low-density lipoproteins transports in lumen of the vessel and through the vessel tissue are coupled by Kedem-Katchalsky equations. The inflammatory process is modeled using three additional reaction-diffusion partial differential equations. Fluid-structure interaction is used to estimate effective wall stress analysis. Plaque growth functions for volume progression are correlated with shear stress and effective wall stress distribution. We choose two specific patients from MRI study with significant plaque progression. Plaque volume progression using three time points for baseline, 3- and 12-month follow up is fitted. Our results for plaque localization correspond to low shear stress zone and we fitted parameters from our model using nonlinear least-square method. Determination of plaque location and composition, and computer simulation of progression in time for a specific patient shows a potential benefit for the prediction of disease progression. The proof of validity of three-dimensional computer modeling in the evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque burden may shift the clinical information of MRI from morphological assessment toward a functional tool. Understanding and prediction of the evolution of atherosclerotic plaques either into vulnerable or stable plaques are major tasks for the medical community.

A 3D Direct Vehicle-Pavement Coupling Dynamic Model and Its Application on Analysis of Asphalt Pavement Dynamic Response

Currently dynamic response of the pavement structure is widely studied in pavement engineering. A 3D direct vehicle-pavement coupling dynamic model was developed to describe the pavement dynamic responses in this paper. The moving vehicle was simplified as spring-dashpot components, and the pavement structure was simulated using three-dimension finite element model. Based on Newton iteration and central difference integration algorithm, the static and dynamic coupling reactions between the pavement structure and vehicle were considered using finite element platform ABAQUS. The numerical results fit analytic results very well in static analysis and fit experiment results in dynamic analysis well too. The simulated results indicate that the dynamic pavement surface deflection is much higher than the situation in static analysis, due to the overlapping effect. This phenomenon enhances when vehicle speed increases. A discontinuous zone of shear stress was observed on the base surface between the location under moving load and the location the moving load just passed. It was also found that the vertical fluctuation exists on the vehicle even if there is no roughness on the pavement surface. In general, the developed 3-D direct vehicle-pavement coupling dynamic model was validated to be effective on evaluating pavement dynamic responses.

Haemodynamic changes induced by intrasaccular packing on intracranial aneurysms: A computational fluid dynamic study

Abstract Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is a routine medical practice. The most widely used technique is the packing the aneurysm sac with an embolic material. To gain deeper understanding in the effects of specific treatment methods, the intra-aneurysmal haemodynamics are studied with the help of patient-specific computational models. Numerical simulations demonstrated that embolisation with liquid polymer results in an overall decrease of the wall shear stress and pressure in the aneurysm region. Within the range of clinically relevant packing density, simulation of coil embolisation showed homogenisation and decrease of the wall loads on the aneurysm sac. Increasing the packing density above 20% produces little or no further reduction of intra-aneurysmal flow. Sufficient packing of the aneurysm sac results in significant intra-aneurysmal flow decrease associated with reduced wall loads but locally increased pressure or wall shear stress zones may appear depending on the specific vessel geometry.

Miniaturized embryo array for automated trapping, immobilization and microperfusion of zebrafish embryos.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has recently emerged as a powerful experimental model in drug discovery and environmental toxicology. Drug discovery screens performed on zebrafish embryos mirror with a high level of accuracy the tests usually performed on mammalian animal models, and fish embryo toxicity assay (FET) is one of the most promising alternative approaches to acute ecotoxicity testing with adult fish. Notwithstanding this, automated in-situ analysis of zebrafish embryos is still deeply in its infancy. This is mostly due to the inherent limitations of conventional techniques and the fact that metazoan organisms are not easily susceptible to laboratory automation. In this work, we describe the development of an innovative miniaturized chip-based device for the in-situ analysis of zebrafish embryos. We present evidence that automatic, hydrodynamic positioning, trapping and long-term immobilization of single embryos inside the microfluidic chips can be combined with time-lapse imaging to provide real-time developmental analysis. Our platform, fabricated using biocompatible polymer molding technology, enables rapid trapping of embryos in low shear stress zones, uniform drug microperfusion and high-resolution imaging without the need of manual embryo handling at various developmental stages. The device provides a highly controllable fluidic microenvironment and post-analysis eleuthero-embryo stage recovery. Throughout the incubation, the position of individual embryos is registered. Importantly, we also for first time show that microfluidic embryo array technology can be effectively used for the analysis of anti-angiogenic compounds using transgenic zebrafish line (fli1a:EGFP). The work provides a new rationale for rapid and automated manipulation and analysis of developing zebrafish embryos at a large scale.

Characterization and damaging law of CFC for high heat flux actively cooled plasma facing components

The carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite (CFC) Sepcarb N11 has been used in the Tore Supra (TS) tokamak (Cadarache, France) as armour material for the plasma facing components. For the fabrication of the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) divertor (Greifswald, Germany), the NB31 material was chosen. For the fabrication of the ITER divertor, two potential CFC candidates are the NB31 and NB41 materials. In the case of Tore Supra, defects such as microcracks or debonding were found at the interface between CFC tile and copper heat sink. A mechanical characterization of the behaviour of N11 and NB31 was undertaken, allowing the identification of a damage model and finite element calculations both for flat tiles (TS and W7-X) and monoblock (ITER) armours. The mechanical responses of these CFC materials were found almost linear under on-axis tensile tests but highly nonlinear under shear tests or off-axis tensile tests. As a consequence, damage develops within the high shear-stress zones.

Stability Evaluation of Chenmenshan Open-Pit by SURPAC and MIDAS

Chengmenshan open pit has been constructed to be the biggest copper pit in China. The slope designed with empirical rock mass rating and engineering analogy needs reinvestigation and evaluation for its overall stability. With help of SURPAC, the topographic contour of the mine was converted into surface model. Then the geological information of the mine was embedded into the numerical solid model by NURBS treatment of the core loggings. Through overall stability analysis with MIDAS, it was found that there was no obvious failure in the pit with the current design. But the major principal stress at the north especially the north-east corner of the pit tended to be high, so the width of the bench below the high stress region is suggested to be widened for possible collapse in this region. And field observation should be carried out in the region. Once evident slip or collapse happens, anchor and netting structures should be used. At the same time, high shear stress zones were revealed at the south-east of the outside limit of the pit. More planting is suggested to avoid soil creep or even landslides in heavy rain.

Cerebral glucose metabolism after traumatic brain injury in the rat studied by 13C-glucose and microdialysis

Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), a disturbed cerebral glucose metabolism contributes to secondary brain damage. To study local cerebral glucose metabolism after TBI, we delivered (13)C-labeled glucose into brain tissue by microdialysis (MD). MD probes were inserted bilaterally into the parietal cortex of rat brain, one probe in the shear stress zone of the injury and the other at the corresponding contralateral coordinates. A moderately severe controlled cortical contusion was used to model TBI. Dialysate concentrations of glucose, pyruvate, lactate, and glycerol were measured, and following derivatization, (13)C enrichments of the compounds were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We found that (13)C-labeled glucose was rapidly converted into (13)C-lactate and (13)C-glycerol. In the hours following TBI, concentrations and (13)C enrichments of lactate and glycerol increased. The findings confirm the occurrence of anaerobic local glucose metabolism early after TBI. Only a small fraction of the glycerol was newly synthesized, suggesting that the hypothesis that most of the released glycerol after TBI comes from degradation of membrane phospholipids still holds. We conclude that the combination of microdialysis and stable isotope technique is a useful tool for investigating local glucose metabolism following brain injury.

Sediment transport off the Huanghe (Yellow River) delta and in the adjacent Bohai Sea in winter and seasonal comparison

Based on the data on the current velocity, water temperature, salinity, turbidity and concentration of suspended sediment collected in November 2006 along three survey transects at three time-series, ship-based stations off the Huanghe (Yellow River) delta, and at twenty-four grid survey stations in the adjacent Bohai Sea, sediment transport off the Huanghe delta and in the adjacent Bohai Sea under winter regime were studied and compared with those from the summer season. The homogeneous distribution of salinity, temperature and sediment in the water column indicated a well-mixed body of water. A zone of high suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) >100 mg l −1 with a width of 35 km was identified along the delta coast. Two highest SSC centers were found in the surface and middle water layers around the abandoned Diaokou Huanghe river mouth and the present Huanghe river mouth, and the third one in the bottom layer around the abandoned Qingshuigou Huanghe river mouth. These three highest SSC centers become major sediment source areas in winter. Based on the location of the high bottom shear stress zone, the prevailing wave directions and the protuberant topography of the river mouths, we identified the resuspension origin of the three highest SSC centers caused mostly by the winter storm waves, partially by tidal currents. Suspended sediment flux (SSF) along the three coastal transects indicated that the sediment in the northwest part of the delta was transported northeastward and southeastward along the coast of the recent delta lobe. The SSC and SSF were higher in winter than summer by 1.7–27.1 and 2–122.5 times, respectively, except around the present river mouth. This indicates that the intensity of sediment transport in winter is much stronger than in summer due to the powerful effect of winter storms although the river water and sediment discharges to the sea were much greater in summer. The massive Huanghe sediment to the sea was accumulated in a narrow coastal area due to weak hydrodynamics in summer, and then strongly resuspended mostly by storm waves in winter and transported to the offshore area. The coastal area off the Huanghe delta acts as a sediment sink in summer and converted to be a sediment source in winter in response to the seasonal variation of the East Asian monsoon in this region. The erosion–accumulation pattern of the Huanghe subaqueous delta from 1976 to 2003 illustrates that river-laden sediment is deposited mainly in the southern part off the coastal area and it is also the result of intensive southward sediment transport in winter.

Optimization of MR phase-contrast-based flow velocimetry and shear stress measurements

This study was designed to measure the pixel-by-pixel flow velocity and shear stress from phase-contrast MR images. An optimized method was suggested and the use of the method was confirmed. A self-developed, straight steady flow model system was scanned by MRI with a velocity-encoded phase-contrast sequence. In-house developed software was used for the pixel-by-pixel flow velocity and shear stress measurements and the measurements were compared with physically measured mean velocity and shear stress. A comparison between the use of the in-house velocimetry software and a commercial velocimetry system was also performed. Curved steady flow models were scanned by phase-contrast MRI. Subsequently, velocity and shear stress were measured to confirm the shifted peak flow velocity and shear stress toward the outer side of the lumen. Peak velocity and shear stress were calculated for both the inner and outer half of the lumen and were statistically compared. The mean velocity measured with the use of in-house software had a significant correlation with the physical measurements of mean velocity; in addition, the measurement was more precise compared to the commercial system (R(2) = 0.85 vs. 0.75, respectively). The calculated mean shear stress had a significant correlation with the physical measurements of mean shear stress (R(2) = 0.95). The curved flow model showed a significantly shifted peak velocity and shear stress zones toward the outside of the flow (P < 0.0001). The technique to measure pixel-by-pixel velocity and shear stress of steady flow from velocity-encoded phase-contrast MRI was optimized. This technique had a good correlation with physical measurements and was superior to a commercially available system.

Damage prediction of carbon fibre composite armoured actively cooled plasma-facing components under cycling heat loads

In order to predict the lifetime of carbon fibre composite (CFC) armoured plasma-facing components in magnetic fusion devices, it is necessary to analyse the damage mechanisms and to model the damage propagation under cycling heat loads. At Tore Supra studies have been launched to better understand the damage process of the armoured flat tile elements of the actively cooled toroidal pump limiter, leading to the characterization of the damageable mechanical behaviour of the used N11 CFC material and of the CFC/Cu bond. Up until now the calculations have shown damage developing in the CFC (within the zone submitted to high shear stress) and in the bond (from the free edge of the CFC/Cu interface). Damage is due to manufacturing shear stresses and does not evolve under heat due to stress relaxation.For the ITER divertor, NB31 material has been characterized and the characterization of NB41 is in progress. Finite element calculations show again the development of CFC damage in the high shear stress zones after manufacturing. Stresses also decrease under heat flux so the damage does not evolve. The characterization of the CFC/Cu bond is more complex due to the monoblock geometry, which leads to more scattered stresses.These calculations allow the fabrication difficulties to be better understood and will help to analyse future high heat flux tests on various mock-ups.

Numerical Comparative Study on the Hemodynamic Performance of a New Helical Graft With Noncircular Cross Section and SwirlGraft

The helically distributed ribbons of thrombus, formed in the commercially available SwirlGraft (Veryan Medical, London, UK), are the result of its wall shear stress distribution, which has zonary areas of low wall shear stress. In order to overcome the inherent deficiency of the SwirlGraft, a new helical graft with a noncircular cross section was proposed and compared numerically with the SwirlGraft in terms of wall shear stress distribution, helicity of the swirling flow created, and pressure drop over the grafts. The numerical results showed that due to the modification to the geometrical configuration of the SwirlGraft, wall shear stress in the new helical graft model was enhanced, and the zones of low wall shear stress existing in the SwirlGraft were completely eliminated. The present numerical study also predicted a slightly steeper pressure drop and reduction in helicity in the new helical graft model in comparison with the SwirlGraft model. Based on the study, we believe that the new helical graft with a noncircular cross section may reduce the possibility of acute thrombus formation in the graft because the enhanced wall shear stress can impede the stay and adherence of platelets and leukocytes to the surface of the graft.

Turbulent Pressure and Velocity Perturbations Induced by Gentle Hills Covered with Sparse and Dense Canopies

How the spatial perturbations of the first and second moments of the velocity and pressure fields differ for flow over a train of gentle hills covered by either sparse or dense vegetation is explored using large-eddy simulation (LES). Two simulations are investigated where the canopy is composed of uniformly arrayed rods each with a height that is comparable to the hill height. In the first simulation, the rod density is chosen so that much of the momentum is absorbed within the canopy volume yet the canopy is not dense enough to induce separation on the lee side of the hill. In the second simulation, the rod density is large enough to induce recirculation inside the canopy on the lee side of the hill. For this separating flow case, zones of intense shear stress originating near the canopy-atmosphere interface persist all the way up to the middle layer, ‘contaminating’ much of the middle and outer layers with shear stress gradients. The implications of these persistent shear-stress gradients on rapid distortion theory and phase relationships between higher order velocity statistics and hill-induced mean velocity perturbations (Δu) are discussed. Within the inner layer, these intense shear zones improve predictions of the spatial perturbation by K-theory, especially for the phase relationships between the shear stress (~ ∂Δu/∂z) and the velocity variances, where z is the height. For the upper canopy layers, wake production increases with increasing leaf area density resulting in a vertical velocity variance more in phase with Δu than with ∂Δu/∂z. However, background turbulence and inactive eddies may have dampened this effect for the longitudinal velocity variance. The increase in leaf area density does not significantly affect the phase relationship between mean surface pressure and topography for the two simulations, though the LES results here confirm earlier findings that the minimum mean pressure shifts downstream from the hill crest. The increase in leaf area density and associated flow separation simply stretches this difference further downstream. This shift increases the pressure drag, the dominant term in the overall drag on the hill surface, by some 15%. With regards to the normalized pressure variance, increasing leaf area density increases \({\sigma_p/u_{*}^{2}}\) near the canopy top, where u* is the longitudinally averaged friction velocity at the canopy top and σp is the standard deviation of the pressure fluctuations. This increase is shown to be consistent with a primitive scaling argument on the leading term describing the mean-flow turbulent interaction. This scaling argument also predicts the spatial variations in σp above the canopy reasonably well for both simulations, but not inside the canopy.

Microfluidic Single-Cell Array Cytometry for the Analysis of Tumor Apoptosis

Limitations imposed by conventional analytical technologies for cell biology, such as flow cytometry or microplate imaging, are often prohibitive for the kinetic analysis of single-cell responses to therapeutic compounds. In this paper, we describe the application of a microfluidic array to the real-time screening of anticancer drugs against arrays of single cells. The microfluidic platform comprises an array of micromechanical traps, designed to passively corral individual nonadherent cells. This platform, fabricated in the biologically compatible elastomer poly(dimethylsiloxane), PDMS, enables hydrodynamic trapping of cells in low shear stress zones, enabling time-lapse studies of nonadherent hematopoietic cells. Results indicate that these live-cell, microfluidic microarrays can be readily applied to kinetic analysis of investigational anticancer agents in hematopoietic cancer cells, providing new opportunities for automated microarray cytometry and higher-throughput screening. We also demonstrate the ability to quantify on-chip the anticancer drug induced apoptosis. Specifically, we show that with small numbers of trapped cells (approximately 300) under careful serial observation we can achieve results with only slightly greater statistical spread than can be obtained with single-pass flow cytometer measurements of 15,000-30,000 cells.

The influence of different cutting speeds on the cutting force and strain–stress behaviors of single crystal copper during nano-scale orthogonal cutting

This paper uses a method that combines molecular dynamics with finite element deformation model (MDFM) to calculate the stress and strain of single crystal copper that occur during nano-scale orthogonal cutting. Using the MDFM model, the phenomenon of residual strain, residual stress on the machined surface and the cutting force by the four different cutting speeds such as 20, 50, 100 and 200 m/s were investigated during nano-scale orthogonal cutting. The average cutting force is about the same under different cutting speeds ranging from 20 to 200 m/s during steady cutting state. This paper also finds that it has only minor influence for the different cutting speeds on the distribution of the strain and stress at the contact area between the cutting chip and rigid tool during steady cutting state. And the cutting speed has greater influence on the distribution of strain and stress in the shear zone. The distribution of strain and stress in shear zone increases when the cutting speed decreases. Under different cutting speeds, the values and distribution ranges of the residual strain and residual stress on the machined surface of single crystal copper are similar.

Influence of non-uniform distribution of shear stress on aerobic biofilms

This work deals with the detachment of biofilm subjected to a shear stress. Biofilms are developed on plates, under very low shear stress for one month and then subjected to an erosion test for 2 h in a Couette–Taylor reactor (CTR). During the erosion test, the plate was fixed on the external cylinder of the CTR. The presence of the plate modifies the velocity field in the CTR. A first zone close to the facing step region is characterized by the detachment of the stream lines. A second zone, downstream, is characterized by a pure shear flow: the distribution of the shear stress is uniform; the residual biofilm mass was measured and the detachment can be classically related to the magnitude of shear stress. In the first zone, the recirculating flow induces a strong non-uniform distribution of shear stress. The residual biofilm mass was also measured and found to be much lower than in the uniform shear stress zone, whereas the magnitude of shear stress is of the same order or even smaller. The assumption of elastic rheology for the biofilm enables the strong detachment observed in the region subjected to non-uniform shear stress to be explained.

Time-dependent 3D simulations of the hemodynamics in a stented coronary artery

Stenting is becoming the major interventional cardiology procedure worldwide. However restenosis remains a major limitation to the effectiveness of stents. Alterations to the local hemodynamics in the stented segment of the artery could be a potential factor in the development of in-stent restenosis. The characterization of wall shear stress and of blood flow patterns in a stented artery is therefore necessary for a good understanding of the role of hemodynamics in the development of in-stent restenosis. We have used a time-dependent 3D numerical model of a stented coronary artery to study the characteristics of the blood flow and the shear stress distribution. Our results show that the presence of the stent produces significant secondary flow that is limited to an annulus in the near wall region. Low shear stress zones were localized in the vicinity of the struts while the tips of the struts exhibited high values of shear stress. These results support the hypothesis that local hemodynamics may affect the development of in-stent restenosis and could influence the choice of stent geometries for future stent designs.