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The project was to make a functioning heart valve that resebmles that of the real heart. In a sense the valve is a one way gate for blood to flow. This valve is not what pushes the blood but it keeps it from returning to the stage before. The blood can easily flow through the valve. But not back. So we would need to create some sort of one way valve.
Initial Idea: We could do this by making attaching three silicone sides at a base, much like a cone but only attached at the base. Then attaching hydrophobic hairs around the gaps and top of the cone. The whole thing should be tension-ed to close as well.
Materals testing:
Materials we would test for use on the object (part 1): Cardboard and Rubber plastic:
Observations:
Cardboard: After exposure to water, the cardboard quickly absorbed moisture, leading to a noticeable weakening of the material. It became fragile within 3 minutes and began to disintegrate when subjected to slight bending or pressure.
Flexible Plastic: The flexible plastic, in contrast, did not absorb any water and remained unaffected by the moisture exposure. It retained its flexibility and strength even after extended contact with water, showing no signs of failure or structural failure.
This told use we need to use materals that cannot absorb water to ensure longevity.
Materal testing (Part 2): The testing confirmed that flexible plastic is a more suitable material than cardboard. The ability of plastic to resist water absorption while maintaining its structural integrity under stress makes it an ideal candidate for solid core materials in environments where moisture exposure is likely.
Final testing of the improved design with a controlled water content lab.
Results:
No-Flow Side Test:
Out of the one cup of water added, approximately 1/3 cup passed through the valve in 15 seconds.
This indicates partial leakage through the valve when in the closed position.
Flow Side Test:
When water was added to the flow side, almost all the water passed through the valve within 15 seconds.
This demonstrates effective flow facilitation when the valve is in the open position.
Analysis and Discussion: The results suggest that the valve is functioning as intended, with a strong preference for flow in the desired direction. However, the leakage observed during the no-flow test indicates that the valve’s sealing mechanism could be improved. A tighter seal when the valve is closed would minimize leakage and further enhance performance.
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