Numerical flow analysis of coronary arteries through concentric and eccentric stenosed geometries

Abstract

In this study, the flow characteristics through specific concentric and eccentric plaque formations are investigated via Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence technique considering pulsatile flow conditions adjusted for a single frequency-sinusoidal motion (SIN) and for the coronary arteries namely the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) and Right Coronary Artery (RCA). This specific plaque formation is a combination of a highly eccentric shape with triangular-like cross-section for which the flow behaviour has not been studied before. The pulsatile flow behaviour in conjunction with non-Newtonian blood model for SIN, RCA and LAD is found to have considerable effect on formation of separation bubbles and jets, coherent structures associated with vortex rings and horseshoe vortices, wall shear and pressure drop. It should be stated that the quantitative outcome from this study has been the extra pressure load estimated on the heart which was approximately 17% of eccentric model and 9% of concentric model both in RCA or LAD case for a 75% occlusion scenario. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.