Experimental study on local mass transfer in a simplified bifurcation model: potential role in atherosclerosis

Local mass transfer coefficients and flow patterns were examined in an idealized human aortic bifurcation model. The objectives of this study are to gain further insights on the convective mass transfer process and its possible role in the localization of atherosclerotic lesions. The laser photochromic tracer method provided velocity and wall shear stress estimates in the plane of symmetry of a UV-transparent Plexiglas bifurcation model. Steady flow data were acquired at Reynolds numbers of 500, 600, and 750. A novel copper electrodeposition technique was used to obtain time-averaged convective local mass transfer coefficients in a model identical to that used in the flow experiments. The laminar flow mass transfer data for the trunk of the bifurcation are in good agreement with the analytical Levesque solution. At the bifurcation, higher mass transfer coefficients along the inner wall and lower ones along the outer wall were observed. Further, mass transfer and wall shear stress follow similar patterns both on the inner and outer walls in that StSc 2/3 and C(f)/2 demonstrate analogous behavior. Lower transfer rates of momentum and mass occurred along the outer wall of the branches where lesions tend to develop.