Hydrodynamics of Low Reynolds Respiratory-type Flows

Both aquatic and terrestrial animals inhale surrounding fluid for metabolic and sensory purposes. As organisms inhale and exhale, complex fluid interactions occur both internal and external to the physiological orifice. Using both numerical and experimental approaches, we model an idealized respiratory flow consisting of cyclic inhalation and exhalation through a single cylindrical tube. We investigate the effect of varying Reynolds number (Re) as well as the ratio of the inhalation time to the exhalation time (I:E ratio) for a fixed inhalation volume. The numerical model is used for laminar cases at lower Re, whereas the experimental model permits the study to be extended into higher Reynolds numbers that include transitions to turbulence. We map the spatial distribution of both inhaled and exhaled fluid volumes. By comparing these two maps, we can compute the volume of exhaled fluid that is reingested during the subsequent inhalation. The models of interacting inhalation and exhalation exhibit a rich range of flow behaviors across Re number and I:E ratio. This study builds a foundation for more complex studies of animal respiration that will include more realistic morphologies.