Computational investigation of pulsatile blood flow in the models of arterial stenosis and aneurysm

Abstract

A numerical analysis based on a finite volume approach is employed for a 2-D axisymmetric, incompressible, laminar flow of mean Reynolds number of 578 so as to simulate and compare the pulsatile blood flow in the models of arterial stenosis and aneurysm of the same sizes. Radial velocity distribution and Wall Shear Stress Distribution have been taken as the two key parameters for analyzing and comparing stenosis and aneurysm of the same sizes of 32% and 48% severity. These parameters have been compared using unsteady blood flow of two frequencies: Womersley number of 7.75 and 10. In addition, the extent of the effect of Womersley number has been discussed. A flow input waveform is presented in terms of sinusoid. The results implicate that the Womersley number has a little effect on the flow field when the sizes were varied, which indicates the dominance of viscous force on the flow field of the models considered. It has been observed that the size or the severity of the stenosis or aneurysm has great effect on the flow field and Wall Shear Stress effect is too high in the stenosis compared to that in aneurysm. It has been concluded too that, for a particular depth of stenosis and aneurysm, with the same flow inputs, WSS is too high in the stenosis compared to that in aneurysm indicating very high risk in stenosis