Quantifying Effects of Controlling Factors on Flow and Stress Distribution in Stenotic Arteries With Lipid Cores

Abstract

2D and 3D multi-physics experiment-based nonlinear models with fluid-structure interactions (FSI) and structure-structure interactions (SSI) are introduced to model blood flow and stress/strain distributions in stenotic arteries with lipid pools. Material properties for the vessel and plaque are based on experimental measurements and information available in the literature (Huang et. al., 2001; Tang et. al., 2001). The Navier-Stokes equations are used as the governing equations for the fluid. Mooney-Rivlin models are used for both arteries and lipid cores. A well-tested finite element package ADINA is used to solve the models to perform flow and stress/strain analysis. Our results indicate that artery plaque stress/strain distributions are affected considerably (50%–400% or even more) by vessel material properties, stenosis severity and eccentricity, tube axial pre-stretch, pressure conditions, lipid core material property, size, position and geometry, and fluid-structure and structure-structure (vessel wall and lipid core) interactions. Differences in model assumptions and controlling factor specifications must be taken into consideration when interpreting the significance of computational results.