A numerical and experimental study of periodic flow in a model of a corrugated vessel with application to stented arteries

The investigation presented in this paper has attempted to study, from a fluid dynamics point of view, the consequences of the presence of a stent on the flow of blood. The method adopted is mainly by numerical simulation using a finite element technique, but visualization experiments and an analytical study have also been carried out. The flow of blood is treated as being transient, laminar and Newtonian within a rigid section of the stented vessel. The flow is driven by an imposed pressure gradient in the form of a physiological waveform. A periodic boundary condition has been applied. Particle trajectories, fluid shear rate contours and wall shear stress maps, together with the use of a simplified form of particle image velocimetry in the experimental work, have been used to interpret the results. It was found that the vessel wall experienced oscillating levels of wall shear stress, in particular extensive exposure to low shear stress. Regions of flow recirculation, points of flow separation and reattachment constantly move in regions of low shear stress. Vortices form and then are destroyed rapidly by reversing flow. Their potential physiological significance to stented arteries is discussed.