Nonlinear biomechanics of diseased carotid arteries

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse the nonlinear biomechanics of diseased carotid arteries as a potential tool for predicting the onset of cerebral strokes. A two-way coupled three-dimensional (3D) hyperelastic fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis of a diseased carotid artery with abnormal luminal projections at the carotid bulb known as carotid web (CaW) is conducted on the geometry of a patient artery, built upon employing CT angiography images. The blood-flow model incorporates non-Newtonian pulsatile turbulent fluid, and the artery wall is considered hyperelastic subject to blood-induced motion. The hemodynamics of artery induced by transient boundary conditions is determined, specifically focusing on shifts in crucial hemodynamic parameters such as wall shear stress (WSS) and alterations in the blood velocity pattern. Structural assessment of the artery wall involves quantifying the von Mises (VM) stress and deformation field. The analysis demonstrates that different CaW models result in different flow patterns for a selection of time steps in a cardiac cycle. The findings reveal that the presence of the web, as the most common disease among younger adults, can significantly influence the hemodynamic parameters and potentially accelerate the formation of thrombus and atherosclerosis. Hemodynamic analysis can potentially predict specific sites prone to plaque formation and rupture within the carotid artery.