Physiological non-Newtonian blood flow through single stenosed artery

Abstract

A numerical simulation to investigate the Non-Newtonian modeling effects on physiological flows in a three dimensional idealized artery with a single stenosis of 85% severity is given. The wall vessel is considered to be rigid. Oscillatory physiological and parabolic velocity profile has been imposed for inlet boundary condition. Determination of the physiological waveform is performed using a Fourier series with sixteen harmonics. The investigation has a Reynolds number range of 96 to 800. Low Reynolds number k ? w model is used as governing equation. The investigation has been carried out to characterize two Non-Newtonian constitutive equations of blood, namely, (i) Carreau and (ii) Cross models. The Newtonian model has also been investigated to study the physics of fluid. The results of Newtonian model are compared with the Non-Newtonian models. The numerical results are presented in terms of velocity, pressure, wall shear stress distributions and cross sectional velocities as well as the streamlines contour. At early systole pressure differences between Newtonian and Non-Newtonian models are observed at pre-stenotic, throat and immediately after throat regions. In the case of wall shear stress, some differences between Newtonian and Non-Newtonian models are observed when the flows are minimum such as at early systole or diastole. In general, the velocities at throat regions are highest at all-time phase. However, at pick systole higher velocities are observed at post-stenotic region. Downstream flow of all models creates some recirculation regions at diastole.