Publication Date
Fall 2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Sang-Joon (John) Lee; Anand Ramasubramanian; Crystal Han
Abstract
Recent studies on the effects of microgravity on the cardiovascular system have shown increased risk of thrombosis and differences in hemodynamics compared to ground-based studies. Microgravity analogs such as head-down tilt have been used to simulate the cardiovascular and hemodynamic effects and changes in hydrostatic pressure gradient. However, little work has been done to understand the interaction between blood vessel compliance and gravitational orientation. The hypothesis of this thesis is that simulated microgravity by random orientation alters the dynamic response of a closed-loop perfusion system under pulsatile flow, reasoning that the interaction between the gravitational orientation and conduit compliance is a significant factor. The hypothesis is interrogated through experimental studies and fluid-structure interaction simulations with pulsatile flow parallel, antiparallel, and randomly oriented in relation to the gravity vector. A two-way analysis of variance conducted on the experimental results indicates that the orientation does have a significant effect (p = 0.089) on the attenuation of pulsatility through the compliant tubing. Comparisons between simulations and experimental results show similar behavior, with parallel cases having reduced attenuation compared to antiparallel and random orientations.
Recommended Citation
Schweizer, Alexander Y., "Effects of Simulated Microgravity on the Dynamic Response of a Closed-Loop Perfusion System" (2025). Master's Theses. 5708.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31979/etd.3a6h-375f
https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/5708
