Inertial shear forces and the use of centrifuges in gravity research. What is the proper control?

J Biomech Eng. 2003 Jun;125(3):342-6. doi: 10.1115/1.1574521.

Abstract

Centrifuges are used for 1 x g controls in space flight microgravity experiments and in ground based research. Using centrifugation as a tool to generate an Earth like acceleration introduces unwanted inertial shear forces to the sample. Depending on the centrifuge and the geometry of the experiment hardware used these shear forces contribute significantly to the total force acting on the cells or tissues. The inertial shear force artifact should be dealt with for future experiment hardware development for Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS) as well as for the interpretation of previous space-flight and on-ground research data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acceleration*
  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology
  • Cell Adhesion / physiology
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Physiological Phenomena*
  • Centrifugation / methods*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular / physiology*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Physical Stimulation / methods
  • Research Design
  • Rotation
  • Shear Strength
  • Space Flight / methods*
  • Weightlessness Simulation / methods*
  • Weightlessness*