Small changes in stenosis dimensions and the choice of viscosity model significantly impact computational blood flow dynamics and wall shear stress estimates.
Stenosis of blood vessels is a common cardiovascular issue, and numerical simulation provides an accessible alternative to experimental studies. This study utilizes computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate blood flow dynamics in stenotic vessels with varying dimensions and viscosity models, offering insights into how blood behaves under different conditions. Validation, conducted by comparing results with experimental data in the post-stenotic region, shows acceptable differences. Nine stenosis models were analyzed by altering stenosis length (from 13.75 mm to 27.5 mm) and height (from 2.2 mm to 4.4 mm) while testing three viscosity models: Newtonian, Power Law, and Carreau Law. Key variables such as wall shear stress (WSS), pressure drop, and maximum throat velocity were determined, and recirculation zones and streamline contours were observed. The results indicate that small changes in stenosis dimensions significantly impact flow dynamics. While Newtonian and Power Law models produce similar outcomes, different viscosity models alter flow results. Carreau Law shows maximum WSS values between 25 Pa and 125 Pa, compared to 1.5 to 10 Pa for the Newtonian and Power Law models under the same conditions.
Çutay et al. (Fri,) studied this question.