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Experimental and theoretical models of flow during forced expiration: pressure and pressure history dependence of flow rate

  • Biomechanics
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Abstract

Flow characteristics have been studied in elastic mono- and bialveolar lung models made from tubes and balloons in series. Flow rate variation is explained on the basis of two successive limiting factors governed by the mutual interaction of tube mechanical properties and flow characteristics, i.e. wave-speed and viscous limitations induced by the tube collapse. A numerical model of flow in an elastic monoalveolar structure has been developed. It is generally admitted that a remarkable feature of forced expiration is that the flow rate is ‘effort independent’ for approximately the lower 80 per cent of vital capacity. The present results, which describe a continuous process, suggest that the flow rate depends mostly on the external pressure and pressure history.

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Abbreviations

a :

major semi-axis of the tube

A :

tube cross-sectional area

c :

wave speed

E :

elastic modulus of the tube

h :

tube wall thickness

k :

tube eccentricity

K :

bending stiffness

L :

tube length

p c :

contact pressure

p f :

head loss

p l :

osculation pressure

p :

transmural pressure

Q :

volume flow rate

Re :

Reynolds number

S=u/c :

speed index

t :

time

u :

axial fluid velocity

V :

volume

x :

axial distance along the tube

Δp :

pressure difference

μ:

fluid viscosity

ρ:

fluid density

χ:

tube perimeter

A :

balloon or alveoli

e :

external

i :

internal

n :

outlet of the tube

p :

peak value

t :

thoracic

0:

neutral value

1:

inlet of the tube

*:

critical value

∧:

normalised variable

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Technologie de Compiègne, BP 233, F-60206, Compiègne, France

    M. Thiriet, M. Bonis, A. S. Adedjouma, C. Hatzfeld & J. P. Yvon

  2. INSERM U.68, Hôpital Saint Antoine, F-75771, Paris Cedex 12, France

    M. Thiriet, M. Bonis, A. S. Adedjouma, C. Hatzfeld & J. P. Yvon

Authors
  1. M. Thiriet
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  2. M. Bonis
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  3. A. S. Adedjouma
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  4. C. Hatzfeld
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  5. J. P. Yvon
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between the 15th August 1987 and the 31st August 1988, and at other periods to him at INSERM U. 296, Faculté de Médecine, 8 av Gl Sarrail, 94010 Creteil Cedex, France.

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Thiriet, M., Bonis, M., Adedjouma, A.S. et al. Experimental and theoretical models of flow during forced expiration: pressure and pressure history dependence of flow rate. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 25, 551–559 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441748

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02441748

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