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Pulsatile flows and wall-shear stresses in models simulating normal and stenosed aortic arches

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Abstract

Pulsatile aqueous glycerol solution flows in the models simulating normal and stenosed human aortic arches are measured by means of particle image velocimetry. Three transparent models were used: normal, 25% stenosed, and 50% stenosed aortic arches. The Womersley parameter, Dean number, and time-averaged Reynolds number are 17.31, 725, and 1,081, respectively. The Reynolds numbers based on the peak velocities of the normal, 25% stenosed, and 50% stenosed aortic arches are 2,484, 3,456, and 3,931, respectively. The study presents the temporal/spatial evolution processes of the flow pattern, velocity distribution, and wall-shear stress during the systolic and diastolic phases. It is found that the flow pattern evolving in the central plane of normal and stenosed aortic arches exhibits (1) a separation bubble around the inner arch, (2) a recirculation vortex around the outer arch wall upstream of the junction of the brachiocephalic artery, (3) an accelerated main stream around the outer arch wall near the junctions of the left carotid and the left subclavian arteries, and (4) the vortices around the entrances of the three main branches. The study identifies and discusses the reasons for the flow physics’ contribution to the formation of these features. The oscillating wall-shear stress distributions are closely related to the featured flow structures. On the outer wall of normal and slightly stenosed aortas, large wall-shear stresses appear in the regions upstream of the junction of the brachiocephalic artery as well as the corner near the junctions of the left carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. On the inner wall, the largest wall-shear stress appears in the region where the boundary layer separates.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-section area of aorta model

B :

Blockage ratio (=[(E 2−R i )/D i ] × 100%)

De :

Dean number (=Re(r i /R c )0.5)

D i :

Inner diameter of aorta model, 25 mm

D o :

Outer diameter of aorta model, 28 mm

E 1 :

Short radius of ellipse for description of plaque

E 2 :

Long radius of ellipse for description of plaque

F :

Frequency of flow pulsating

H :

Length of straight sections of aorta model, 300 mm

P gage :

Gage pressure of pulsatile flow at upstream region

Q ave :

Time-averaged volumetric flow rate of pulsatile flow

Re ave :

Reynolds number based on average velocity (=U ave D i /ν)

Repeak :

Reynolds number based on peak velocity of cardiac cycle

R i :

Radius of curvature of inner arch wall, 13.5 mm

r i :

Inner radius of aorta model cross section, 12.5 mm

R c :

Radius of curvature of centerline of arch, 27.5 mm

R o :

Radius of curvature of outer arch wall, 41.5 mm

r o :

Outer radius of aorta model cross section, 14 mm

T :

Pulsating period of flow

t :

Time evolution

t* :

Non-dimensional time (=t/T)

U ave :

Time-averaged flow velocity of pulsatile flow (=Q/A)

u :

Axial velocity

u τ :

Friction velocity (=(τ/ρ)1/2)

u+:

Non-dimensional axial velocity (=u/u τ )

y :

Coordinate normal to and away from wall

y+:

Non-dimensional distance from wall (=u τ y/ν)

α :

Womersley parameter (=r i (f/ν)0.5)

τ:

Wall-shear stress

ρ :

Density of working fluid (=1.13 g/cm3 at 37°C)

ν :

Kinematic viscosity of working fluid (=3.93 × 10−6 m2/s at 37°C)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 10672, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Rong Fung Huang & Y.-K. Lan

  2. Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, 30068, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC

    Ten-Fang Yang

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  1. Rong Fung Huang
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  2. Ten-Fang Yang
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  3. Y.-K. Lan
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Correspondence to Rong Fung Huang.

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Huang, R.F., Yang, TF. & Lan, YK. Pulsatile flows and wall-shear stresses in models simulating normal and stenosed aortic arches. Exp Fluids 48, 497–508 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-009-0754-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-009-0754-y

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