Experimental Investigations of Steady and Pulsatile Laminar Flow in a 90° Branch

Abstract

Velocity measurements are reported for steady and unsteady flow in a rectangular cross-section Y-branch of high aspect ratio. Good agreement is found between the experimental results and two-dimensional calculations. Emphasis is placed on flow velocities near and parallel to the outer wall inasmuch as their gradients are proportional to wall shearing stress which may be of influence in atherogenesis. Large variation in flow velocities and hence shearing stress are found in the immediate vicinity of the corner. The results in this region could support theories which propose either high or low shearing stress as an important consideration in the etiology of arteriosclerosis.