Calculation of pulsatile flow and particle paths in an aneurysm-model

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Aneurysms pose significant health risks, and understanding their hemodynamics is crucial for predicting growth and rupture.
• Pulsatile blood flow in aneurysms creates complex, time-dependent flow fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically investigate the velocity field and wall shear stress in a model aneurysm under pulsatile flow conditions.
• To analyze particle paths to identify regions of flow stasis and their implications for thrombogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Finite element method applied to time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations.
• Numerical calculation of velocity fields and wall shear stress.
• Particle path tracing to visualize flow dynamics and identify stagnant zones.

Main Results:

• Complex flow patterns with transient eddies observed during the cardiac cycle.
• High wall shear stress identified downstream of the aneurysm, potentially driving aneurysm expansion.
• Particle paths confirmed the dynamic nature of vortices and highlighted areas of stasis.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the intricate hemodynamics within aneurysm models.
• High wall shear stress and flow stasis are identified as critical factors potentially contributing to aneurysm progression and thrombosis.
• Accurate flow field analysis is vital for understanding aneurysm pathophysiology.