Experimental correlations to predict fluid resistance for simple pulsatile laminar flow of incompressible fluids in rigid tubes

The effects of oscillatory amplitude and frequency on fluid resistance for pulsatile incompressible laminar flow in rigid tubes were investigated analytically and experimentally. Analytical results predict that oscillations will have no effect on average resistance, defined as average pressure drop divided by average flow rate. The effect of oscillatory flow amplitude on total fluid resistance was obtained analytically. These results were verified experimentally. Equations are presented which allow the calculation of total fluid resistance for laminar, incompressible pulsatile flow in rigid tubes as a function of tube dimensions, fluid properties, frequency of oscillation and oscillatory flow amplitude.