A Comprehensive Numerical Model of Thrombus Embolization: Fluid-Thrombus Interactions Through a Coupled Computational...

Area of Science:

• Multiphysics simulation
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Biomaterials science

Background:

• Thromboembolic diseases cause significant mortality, driven by blood clot embolization.
• Existing numerical models for thrombus embolization are limited and lack robustness.
• Understanding clot fracture dynamics under fluid forces is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an advanced computational framework for thrombus embolization.
• To couple Lagrangian peridynamics with Eulerian computational fluid dynamics for multiphysics simulation.
• To investigate the influence of heterogeneous material properties on clot detachment.

Main Methods:

• Coupling of Lagrangian non-ordinary state-based peridynamics with Eulerian computational fluid dynamics.
• Incorporation of complex thrombus constitutive laws and delamination physics.
• Development of a robust interpolation scheme for data transfer between arbitrary meshes and peridynamic particle clouds.

Main Results:

• The framework successfully reproduces experimental results of thrombus embolization under varying flow rates.
• Demonstrated capability to model spatially heterogeneous material properties, unlike previous approaches.
• Heterogeneous properties enable trailing-edge detachment, explaining prior experimental observations.

Conclusions:

• The developed computational framework significantly advances the state-of-the-art in modeling thrombus embolization.
• The model's ability to capture complex phenomena like heterogeneous detachment provides new insights into disease mechanisms.
• This validated framework offers a robust tool for future research in thromboembolic diseases.