Keywords

microgravity, microfluidics, CFD, microfluidic device, osteoporosis

Abstract

In recent years, space exploration has been driving studies that enable sustained human presence in space. In such studies, fluidics relating to biology have become important. Fluids in biological systems span from large-scale flows relevant to circulatory, digestion, and pulmonary systems, but also involve many micro-scale porous flows. Hence, space exploration is driving a novel need to characterize fluidics in microscales in microgravity conditions. In this work, we study the porous flow network within bones that stimulates cellular growth and has the potential to relate to osteoporosis (including driving osteoporosis in astronauts). To study this effect, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed on a microfluidic device with a hexagon structure and compared to experimental results in both normal gravity (1g) and microgravity (0g) via Blue Origin's New Shepard Vehicle (NS-23 attempt and NS-24 launch). CFD results have been created to predict the transport character of nutrients in the bones. These insights have the potential to lead to preventative measures for osteoporosis in astronauts.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Kinzel, Michael

Degree

Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering (M.S.A.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Degree Program

Aerospace Engineering

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

DP0028495

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0028495

Language

English

Release Date

8-15-2024

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Accessibility Status

Meets minimum standards for ETDs/HUTs

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