A 3-D thin-wall model with fluid–structure interactions for blood flow in carotid arteries with symmetric and asymmetric stenoses

Abstract

Severe stenosis may lead to critical flow conditions related to artery collapse, plaque cap rupture which lead directly to stroke and heart attack. A three-dimensional (3-D) thin-wall model with flow-structure interactions was introduced and solved using ADINA to investigate the wall deformation and flow properties of blood flow in carotid arteries with symmetric and asymmetric stenoses. The Navier–Stokes equations were used as the governing equations for the fluid. The tube wall was assumed to be hyperelastic, homogeneous, isotropic and incompressible. The nonlinear large strain Ogden material model was used for the wall with the elastic properties determined experimentally for a silicone tube with a 78% stenosis by diameter. The results revealed that the behaviors of the 3-D flow pressure, velocity and shear stress fields are very different from those of 2-D models. Stenosis severity and asymmetry have considerable effects on those critical flow conditions such as negative pressure and high shear stress were found which may be related to artery collapse and plaque rupture.