Variation of Wall Shear Stress in Daughter Tube of Asymmetrical Arterial Branch Model.

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of the flow distribution ratio and the pulsation on the wall shear stress through an asymmetrical branch model has been studied experimentally. The experiment has been carried out for a branch model, such as the inferior mesenteric artery from the abdominal aorta, so that a daughter tube asymmetrically branches out from the parent tube at 45 degrees. The wall shear stress is quite affected by the difference in flow distribution ratio for each downstream tube. In steady flow, the wall shear stress periodically changes along the proximal wall of the daughter tube. In pulsating flow, a< 7, this periodic change in wall shear stress markedly occurs and its magnitude is several times larger than that in the upstream parent tube. The distribution of the amplitude of wall shear stress in pulsating flow at a quasi-steady state is similar to that of wall shear stress in steady flow.