FLUID-STRUCTURE ANALYSIS OF BLOOD FLOW IN AN OCCLUDED DEFORMABLE ARTERY

KEYWORDS

Friction, Fluid-structure interaction, Blood clot, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Artery

Abstract

Blocked arteries, due to the build-up of fibrous and fatty material inside the arteries is the underlying condition that causes coronary heart disease and other circulatory diseases. This can ultimately bring on symptoms such as chest pain (angina) or lead to life-threatening conditions such as a heart attack or stroke. It is important to have a detailed understanding of the complex interactions that occur between blood flow and vessel deformations under this medical condition. The objective of this study is to provide a more realistic description of blocked artery physiology by presenting a unique approach that includes fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis. Unlike conventional techniques, which generally regard either the clot or the vessel as rigid entities or focus primarily on fluid flow or structural mechanics, our approach overcomes these gaps by considering both blood flow and clogged-vascular deformability. To represent the intricacies of hemodynamic interactions and soft tissue mechanics, we use an idealized cylindrical vascular model. One of the main contributions is a thorough modeling framework that combines structural mechanics and fluid dynamics to allow for a dynamic evaluation of blocked-vessel interactions with the blood. Examining the patterns of stress, strain, and deformation in vessel walls offers valuable information about how occluded vessels respond mechanically to changes in blood flow. This research holds significant implications for disease modeling, clinical diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions. Our goal is to contribute to the development of more effective treatment options and patient-specific treatments by understanding the bio tribological mechanisms that underlie the physiology.

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