Microcontinuum model for pulsatile blood flow through a stenosed tube

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Biomedical engineering
• Rheology

Background:

• Blood flow analysis is crucial for understanding cardiovascular health.
• Stenosed vessels alter normal hemodynamics.
• Micropolar fluid theory offers a more realistic model for non-Newtonian blood flow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of blood's polar nature and pulsatility on flow through stenosed tubes.
• To compare the behavior of blood modeled as a micropolar fluid versus a Newtonian fluid.
• To analyze key hemodynamic parameters like velocity, viscosity, wall shear stress, and flow resistance.

Main Methods:

• Assumed blood as a micropolar fluid.
• Applied linearized equations with finite Hankel and Laplace transforms.
• Derived analytical expressions for velocities, wall shear stress, flow resistance, and apparent viscosity.

Main Results:

• Micropolar fluids showed higher axial velocities than Newtonian fluids in specific cycle phases.
• Apparent viscosity exhibited both inverse and standard Fahraeus-Lindqvist effects with varying tube radius.
• Calculated and compared flow resistance and wall shear stress for normal and diseased blood conditions.

Conclusions:

• The micropolar fluid model provides valuable insights into blood flow dynamics in stenosed arteries.
• Pulsatility and polar effects significantly influence hemodynamic parameters.
• Findings contribute to a better understanding of blood rheology in pathological conditions.