A note on the solution of the one-dimensional unsteady equations of arterial blood flow by the method of characteristics

Abstract

AbstractThe “Hartree hybrid method” has recently been employed in one-dimensional non-linear aortic blood-flow models, and the results obtained appear to indicate that shock-waves could only form in distances which exceed physiologically meaningful values. However, when the same method is applied with greater numerical accuracy to these models, the existence of a shock-wave in the vicinity of the heart is predicted. This appears to be contrary to present belief.