Mechanical loading of blood cells in turbulent flow

Blood cells are subjected to turbulent flow in some disease states and in cardiovascular devices. In general, the details of the microscale flow and stress on cells are unknown for these flows. This chapter is a discussion and review of efforts to identify simple parameters that can quantify the effects of turbulence on cells. It is shown that Reynolds stress and Kolmogorov scale alone are not adequate descriptors of the turbulent flow. The energy spectrum of turbulence must be considered also, so that cell loading at all length scales is properly represented. A deeper quantitative model will require understanding of two-phase flow effects.