Numerical investigations of various aspects of plaque deposition through constricted artery

Abstract

The pulsatile blood flow through constricted artery generates fluid mechanical forces on internal layer of artery, endothelium. These fluid mechanical factors affect endothelial lining from keeping artery healthy. In this paper, a series of numerical simulations of modeled bell shaped stenosed artery have been carried out for investigation of fluid mechanical factors of realistic pulsatile flow at the inlet of modeled stenosis with bell shaped geometry. The governing equations for two-dimensional unsteady laminar flow of incompressible fluid are solved by finite volume method followed by SIMPLER algorithm. The fluid mechanical factors, particularly wall pressure, streamline contour, peak wall shear stress, low wall shear stress and oscillatory shear index, having inferences to the arterial disease, are investigated by simulation results of different percentage of restrictions. All these parameters have a noticeable impact for the plaque deposition. The impacts of Reynolds number and Womersley number for both of mild stenosis and severe stenosis on arterial disease, atherosclerosis are also investigated by evaluating fractional flow reverse and oscillatory shear potential.