The Physics Behind Flow — Bernoulli, Continuity, and Pressure Drop
The Physics Behind Flow — Bernoulli, Continuity, and Pressure Drop
How Classic Laws of Fluid Dynamics Explain What You See
Why does pressure drop inside your vascular model? And why does fluid slow down in wider vessels even though the pump output stays the same? This article explores how Bernoulli’s principle, the continuity equation, and Poiseuille’s law explain what you observe in pulse duplicating systems — complete with a real-world case study and step-by-step calculation. A must-read for anyone using pumps in medical simulation.
Understanding Fluid Dynamics in Pulsatile Pump Systems: How We Simulate Real Blood Flow
Why does the pressure on your pump screen differ from what you measure inside your vascular model? This article explains how pressure changes as fluid moves through tubing, enters larger vessels, and interacts with compliant model walls. Learn why a higher pump setting may be needed to simulate realistic physiological conditions — and how understanding basic fluid dynamics can improve the accuracy of your simulation setup.