A Review on Blood Flow Simulation in Stenotically Diseased Arteries

Heart diseases which can lead to stroke and heart attacks, affect numerous individuals worldwide due to disruptions in blood flow within the body. A common underlying cause for such hemodynamic disorders is a constriction in the artery, which is known as a stenosis, which is attributable to a range of causes including atherosclerosis or plaque accumulation. Many theoretical and computational studies have been presented in this area providing a useful compliment to experimental (clinical) studies. These studies have benefited clinical practice by providing insights into complex fluid dynamics associated with cardiovascular disease and identifying robust methodologies for mitigating such diseases. This review therefore aims to provide an overview of recent mathematical and numerical modelling advancements in understanding blood flow in stenosed arteries which have served to expand the current understanding of disease onset and mitigation for patients. Many diverse aspects of stenotic hemodynamics have been addressed in a large body of literature under various assumptions, such as different fluid material models, artery channel characteristics and diverse analytical and numerical solution techniques. These studies have also considered a variety of multi-physical effects including heat transfer, mass diffusion, nanoparticle effects in actual clinical treatments. In this review, over 100 recent articles from reputable journals are appraised. The primary objectives of this review paper are to emphasize the methodologies used for modelling, numerical simulation, and robust evaluation of hemodynamic characteristics in arterial blood flow which provide a more sophisticated insight into hemodynamics associated with diseases and possible mitigation strategies. The tabular format outlines different aspects of geometries and blood behavior (fluids) examined in the period 2015-2025. This organized presentation and crystallization of key contributions in a single article will also serve as a valuable resource for multi-disciplinary researchers including mathematicians, bioengineers, computer scientists in addition to medical researchers. Future pathways are also outlined.