Fundamentals of Haemodynamics - Computational Hemodynamics: Theory, Modelling and Applications - page 85

4.7 Fluid Dynamics of Blood Flow Examples

The features of fluid dynamics discussed in the previous sections that are relevant in
haemodynamics are presented here through examples. Bifurcations of arteries, ste-
nosis, curved geometries, and aneurysms are all features that can be found in the ar-
terial system. In this section, we present a simplified artery system that incorporates
four kinds of arterial vasculature to demonstrate the fluid dynamic characteristics
associated with the existence of flow disturbance (Fig. 4.15 ).

4.7.1 Carotid Artery Bifurcation

In this section, the tuning-fork-shaped idealized carotid bifurcation model is used,
which is reconstructed from 12 averaged human carotid anatomical data (Ding et al.
2001) shown in Fig. 4.16a . The fluid domain is a structured mesh with hexahedral
elements. Near wall grid refinement is imposed to provide better resolution for near
wall quantities, such as wall shear stress.
A constant velocity of 0.4 m/s representing peak systolic flow at the CCA (com-
mon carotid artery) is used which produces a Reynolds number of Re = 800 at the
entrance. A flow rate partition of 70 % through the ICA (internal carotid artery) and
30 % through the ECA (external carotid artery) is prescribed for the bifurcating
flow. This accounts for a physiological time-varying flow partition between the two
branches during one cardiac cycle (Morbiducci et al. 2010).

Fig. 4.15 Schematic diagram of computational fluid dynamics of arterial system