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Lagrangian coherent structures in the human carotid artery bifurcation

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Abstract

The carotid artery bifurcation is known as a site of atheromatous plaque formation which is closely related to hemodynamics. To investigate the fluid mechanics inside the bifurcation, a transparent model of the carotid geometry was built to estimate the feasibility of using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) in a complex three-dimensional geometry. As a first approach, steady inflow conditions are considered. Velocity data are acquired in cross-sectional planes and combined to yield the full three-dimensional velocity vector field in the region of the bifurcation. The finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) is used as a criterion to reveal the complex flow structure and is found to be particularly efficient in discriminating between reverse flow and recirculation regions. The Lagrangian criterion is also computed with time-resolved, two-component PIV measurements obtained by increasing the Reynolds number up to the onset of unsteadiness. The FTLE field produces in this case a detailed visualization of the instability development.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank M. Thiriet for the MRI data, M.-I. Farinas for the carotid model, and J.-M. Béland for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, C.P. 6079, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada

    Jérôme Vétel, André Garon & Dominique Pelletier

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  1. Jérôme Vétel
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  2. André Garon
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  3. Dominique Pelletier
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Correspondence to Jérôme Vétel.

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Vétel, J., Garon, A. & Pelletier, D. Lagrangian coherent structures in the human carotid artery bifurcation. Exp Fluids 46, 1067–1079 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-009-0615-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-009-0615-8

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