NUMERICAL AND PHYSICAL MODEL STUDIES OF OLFACTION

研究拟利用流体力学的工程原理 和质量转移来研究嗅觉功能的这些方面， 在大鼠和人类鼻腔中， 解剖学、气味溶解度、化学反应、空气流动和扩散。 我们将构建50倍放大比例的大鼠鼻腔模型， 在这个大型模型和真实的之间建立流体力学相似性 大鼠鼻腔的无因次雷诺-斯特劳哈尔匹配 两者之间的数字。 我们将在这个内部进行速度测量 在模拟大鼠嗅闻实验的条件下， 在项目#2中进行。 我们还将继续制作速度剖面图 在我们的大规模人体鼻腔模型中进行测量， 解剖变异的特点，它的各种临床条件 项目#1中获得的结果提示嗅觉功能障碍， 在其他各种项目中。 在进行这些测量的同时， 大规模的物理模型，我们将继续发展三维有限 元素数值模型的质量传输方面的嗅觉在 老鼠和人类 数值模型将通过比较其 在物理实验中获得的实验测量结果的预测 模型 数值模型将使我们能够研究所有导电 嗅觉功能障碍方面，通过改变鼻腔相对较快 腔体几何形状、粘液深度和化学成分以及气味剂 空气-粘液界面处的浓度边界条件。 统称 物理和数值鼻腔模型构成了一个强大的新的 调查功能障碍的方法，将与 提案中的其他项目。

Research is proposed to use the engineering principles of fluid mechanics and mass transfer to investigate those aspects of olfactory function and dysfunction, in the rat and human nasal cavity, that depend on nasal cavity anatomy, odorant solubility, chemical reaction, air flow, and diffusion. We will construct a 50x enlarged scale model of the rat nasal cavity and establish fluid mechanical similarity between this large model and the real rat nasal cavity by matching the dimensionless Reynolds and Strouhal numbers between the two. We will make velocity measurements inside this model under conditions simulating the rat sniff experiments being conducted in project #2. We will also continue to make velocity profile measurements in our large scale human nasal cavity model as we introduce anatomic variations in it characteristic of various clinical condiitons of olfactory dysfunction suggested by the results obtained in project #1 and in the various other projects. Simultaneously with these measurements in the large scale physical models, we will continue to develop 3-D finite element numerical models of the mass transport aspects of olfaction in the rat and human. The numerical models will be validated by comparing their predictions tot he experimental measurements obtained in the physical models. The numerical models will allow us to investigate all conductive aspects of olfactory dysfunction relatively quickly by changing nasal cavity geometry, mucus depth and chemical composition, and odorant concentration boundary condition at the air-mucus interface. Together, the physical and numerical nasal cavity models constitute a powerful new approach to investigating dysfunction which will interface closely with the other projects in the proposal.