Numerical modelling of generalized Newtonian fluids in bypass tube

Abstract

The following paper describes a numerical simulation of a complete bypass of a stenosed human artery. The considered geometry consists of the narrowed host tube and the bypass graft with a 45-degree angle of connection. Different diameters of the narrowing are tested. Blood is the fluid with shear rate–dependent viscosity; therefore, various rheology mathematical models for generalized Newtonian fluids are considered, namely Cross model, modified Cross model, Carreau model, and Carreau-Yasuda model. The fundamental system of equations is based on the system of generalized Navier-Stokes equations. Generalized Newtonian fluids flow in a bypass tube is numerically simulated by using a SIMPLE algorithm included in the open-source CFD tool, OpenFOAM. The aim of this work is to compare the numerical results for the different mathematical models of the viscosity with the changing diameter of the narrowed channel.