After successful completion of the course, students are able to:

• Understand the dynamics of physical, chemical and biological processes that control heat, mass and momentum transport in biological applications, integrating specific knowledge with that of other related fields in engineering (for example thermodynamics and fluid mechanics);
• follow specific physico-mathematical reasoning that are required to understand and model transport phenomena in biological systems;
• understand and solve simple problems encountered in biological/chemical applications;
• develop learning skills necessary to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy;

1. Introduction: The role of transport processes in biological systems; Conservation equations; dimensional analysis and scales of motions; Transport by diffusion; Transport by convection;

2. Fluid Flow in the Circulation and Tissues: Oscillating flow in a cylindrical tube; Flow in Curved Vessels; Flow in Branching Vessels; Flow in arteries (Carotid Artery, Aorta, Coronary Arteries); Wall elasticity; Arterial Fluid Dynamics and Atherosclerosis; Heart-Valve Hemodynamics;

3. Mass Transport in Biological systems - Diffusion: Fick's law; Diffusion through a film; Diffusion through porous media and through porous membranes; Diffusion with reactions;

4. Mass Transport in Biological systems - Convection: Convective transport; Transport from an oxygen bubble; Convective transport with reaction;

The following methods will be used to support students in achieving the expected learning outcomes:

• Calculation of examples and case studies at the blackboard;
• Assignment of homeworks to be solved independently by the students; discussion of the corresponding solution strategies/results with the student;
• Introduction to Matlab and Fortran, and to the basic principles of scientific computing and numerical methods
• preparation of scientific reports

The first UE lecture will be Wednesday October 20, 2021.

Students have to prepare a report with the solution of specific problems presented during the lectures, and involving the application of simple numerical techniques or the analysis of experimental data. A grade will be given based on  the quality of the final report.

Please register to the course in case you want to attend the lectures

Suggested readings:

• R. B. Bird, W. E. Stewart, E. N. Lightfoot, Transport Phenomena, Ed. John Wiley and Sons, 1960
• G. A. Truskey, F. Yuan, D. F. Katz, Transport phenomena in biological systems, Ed. Prentice-Hall, 2010