Numerical simulation of pulsatile flow in a carotid bifurcation model

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics
• Computational Science

Background:

• Understanding blood flow in arteries is crucial for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.
• The carotid bifurcation is a common site for atherosclerosis, making its hemodynamics a key research area.
• Pulsatile flow in arterial models requires advanced computational methods for accurate simulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the complex hemodynamics of pulsatile blood flow within a human carotid bifurcation model.
• To identify and visualize zones of reversed flow and particle paths during the cardiac cycle.
• To elucidate the specific hemodynamic characteristics of the carotid sinus.

Main Methods:

• Application of the finite element method (FEM) to solve the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations.
• Development of a computational model representing the human carotid bifurcation.
• Simulation of pulsatile flow conditions to mimic physiological blood flow.

Main Results:

• Identification of distinct zones of reversed flow occurring periodically within the carotid bifurcation model.
• Detailed visualization of individual blood particle trajectories throughout the flow field.
• Demonstration of flow separation in specific regions, particularly within the carotid sinus.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully modeled pulsatile flow in the carotid bifurcation, providing insights into arterial hemodynamics.
• The identified reversed flow zones and particle paths underscore the complex flow patterns in this region.
• The findings emphasize the unique hemodynamic features of the carotid sinus, relevant to vascular health and disease.