EFFECT OF INDUCED MAGNETIC FIELD ON BLOOD FLOW THROUGH A CONSTRICTED CHANNEL: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH

A nonlinear micropolar fluid model is considered with a view to examine the effect of induced magnetic field on blood flow through a constricted channel. We assume that the flow is unidirectional and flowing through a narrow channel, where the Reynolds number is less than unity such as in microvessels. Under the low Reynolds number approximation, the analytical expressions for axial velocity, micro-rotation component, axial pressure gradient, axial induced magnetic field, resistance to flow and wall shear stress have been obtained. The flow characteristic phenomena have been analyzed by taking valid numerical values of the parameters, which are applicable to blood rheology. The present analytical solutions have been compared with the analytical solutions of Hartmann (Hartmann J. Hg-Dynamics-I: Theory of the laminar flow of an electrically conductive liquid in a homogeneous magnetic field, Mathematisk-Fysiske Meddeleser XV:6, 1937) and found excellent agreement. The study shows that with the increasing values of the magnetic field strength decreases the axial velocity at the central line of the channel, while the flow is accelerating in the vicinity of the channel wall. The induced magnetic field has an increasing effect on the micro-rotation component, which in turn produces increasing pressure gradient. The electrical response of the microcirculation increases with the increase in the Hartmann number and the stenosis height. Thus, the resultant flow predictions presented here may be useful for the potential applications in cardiovascular engineering.