Numerical study of nonlinear pulsatile flow in S-shaped curved arteries

The nonlinear pulsatile blood flow in S-shaped curved arteries was studied with finite element method. Numerical simulations for flows in two models of S-shaped curved arteries with different diameters and under the same boundary conditions were performed. The temporal and spatial distributions of hemodynamic variables during the cardiac cycle such as velocity field, secondary flow, pressure, and wall shear stresses in the arteries were analyzed. Results of numerical simulations showed that the secondary flow in the larger S-shaped curved artery is more complex than that in the smaller one; stronger eddy flow occurred in the inner bends of curved arteries; pressure and wall shear stresses changed violently in the curved arteries, especially in the larger model. These hemodynamic variables in curved arteries will cause important effects on the function of arterial endothelium in the region. For instance, they may lead to the proliferation of smooth muscle cells and the thickening of the intima, and cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis may develop in such regions. Due to having the special blood flow characteristics in the S-shaped arteries, it is worthwhile to study flow in this kind of curved artery. The comprehensive theoretical foundation showed in the present study can be extended to approach problems of nonlinear pulsatile flow in curved arteries with more complex geometrical shape.