The influence of the non-Newtonian properties of blood on the flow in large arteries: steady flow in a carotid bifurcation model.
Laser Doppler anemometry experiments and finite element simulations of steady flow in a three dimensional model of the carotid bifurcation were performed to investigate the influence of non-Newtonian properties of blood on the velocity distribution. The axial velocity distribution was measured for two fluids: a non-Newtonian blood analog fluid and a Newtonian reference fluid. Striking differences between the measured flow fields were found. The axial velocity field of the non-Newtonian fluid was flattened, had lower velocity gradients at the divider wall, and higher velocity gradients at the non-divider wall. The flow separation, as found with the Newtonian fluid, was absent. In the computations, the shear thinning behavior of the analog blood fluid was incorporated through the Carreau-Yasuda model. The viscoelastic properties of the fluid were not included. A comparison between the experimental and numerical results showed good agreement, both for the Newtonian and the non-Newtonian fluid. Since only shear thinning was included, this seems to be the dominant non-Newtonian property of the blood analog fluid under steady flow conditions.
Gijsen
F J
FJ
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
van de Vosse
F N
FN
Janssen
J D
JD
D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical