Analysis of particle trajectories in aortic artery bifurcations with stenosis

The fluid-particle dynamics in a two-dimensonal symmetric branching channel with local occlusions representing a diseased segment of an aortic artery bifurcation has been analyzed. The validated finite element model simulates the trajectories and landing or impact sites of spherical particles for laminar flow in bifurcation channels with generalized wall conditions. Two hypotheses relating critical wall shear stress levels and plaque formation, previously postulated by Kleinstreuer et al. (1988) and Nazemi et al. (1989), have been confirmed. Low shear stress may contribute to the onset of atherosclerotic lesions and areas of critically low and higher shear stresses are susceptible to accelerated growth of plaque.