Computational modelling of Non-Newtonian blood flow through carotid artery bifurcation

Blood flow disturbance and wall shear stress parameters have been widely related to the onset and progression of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery. Assessment of these parameters can be performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in three-dimensional models derived from scans of a luminal cast has been used to investigate the blood flow in the carotid artery bifurcation of human beings, which known as the typical location for the formation of recirculation flow and low-oscillatory wall shear stress. This study utilized pulsatile and cyclic velocity profiles at the inlet boundary condition, while the outlet boundary condition is defined to be constant pressure, that is 100 mmHg. Since the blood is a non-Newtonian fluid, the viscosity coefficient of blood is not constant, but rather as a function of the velocity gradient. Therefore, we employ the Carreau model as blood viscosity. The CFD simulation has shown the localization of atherosclerosis is associated with the local hemodynamics parameter, as there are recirculation flow and low wall shear stress present at the carotid bifurcation, particularly at the near bifurcation and carotid sinus.