A mathematical model for blood flow in magnetic field

In the present study a mathematical model of biomagnetic fluid dynamics (BFD), suitable for the description of the Newtonian blood flow under the action of an applied magnetic field, is proposed. This model is consistent with the principles of ferrohydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics and takes into account both magnetization and electrical conductivity of blood. As a representative application the laminar, incompressible, three-dimensional, fully developed viscous flow of a Newtonian biomagnetic fluid (blood) in a straight rectangular duct is numerically studied under the action of a uniform or a spatially varying magnetic field. The numerical results are obtained using a finite differences numerical technique based on a pressure-linked pseudotransient method on a collocated grid. The flow is appreciably influenced by the application of the magnetic field and in particularly by the strength and the magnetic field gradient. A comparison of the derived results is also made with those obtained using the existing BFD model indicating the necessity of taking into account the electrical conductivity of blood. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.