Red blood cells tracking and cell-free layer formation in a microchannel with hyperbolic contraction: A CFD model validation

•Euler-Lagrange (E-L) model allows to track erythrocytes position in microchannel.•Euler-Euler model allows determining the red blood cells distribution in domain.•E-L approach pointed out better prediction of the RBCs behavior in simulations.•The numerical model permits to test many types of channels without producing them.•Contraction width results in different sized CFL downstream of the narrowing.