Direct numerical simulations of transitional pulsatile flow through a constriction

Abstract

A combined experimental and numerical study of transitional pulsatile flow through a planar constriction is presented. The parametric space that we adopt is similar to the one reported in a variety of past experiments relevant to the flow through stenosed arteries. In general, the flow just downstream of the constriction is dominated by the dynamic of the accelerating/decelerating jet that forms during each pulsatile cycle. We found a switch in the shedding frequency and roll-up dynamics, just after the flow rate approaches its maximum value in the cycle. The flow in the reattached area further downstream is also affected by the jet dynamics. A ‘synthetic’ turbulent-like wall-layer develops, an is constantly supported by streamwise vortices that originate from the spanwise instabilities of the large coherent structures generated by the jet. The relation of these structures to the phase-averaged turbulent statistics and the turbulent kinetic energy budgets is discussed.