A preliminary computer simulation study of formation mechanism of dicrotic pulse waves

To confirm the formation of dicrotic waveform pulse waves due to the elastic effect of arteries, a fully coupled fluid-structure interaction analysis of pulsatile blood flow in a very simple model using a finite element method was performed. An artery and the ejection of blood from the ventricle were modeled with a straight elastic tube and imposition of an intermittent pressure pulse wave, respectively. Significant dicrotic waves were observed for the results calculated with Young´s moduli of 0.3 and 0.7 MPa. As the Young´s modulus increased to 2.0 and 3.0 MPa, the level of dicrotic waves decreased