SHEAR-THINNING FLOW IN A BEND AND IN A PL ANAR SYMMETRICAL BIFURCATION - APPLICATION TO THE BLOOD-FLOW IN LARGE VESSELS

A numerical study of steady laminar flow has been performed in a bend (curvature angle of 90 degrees, curvature ratio of 1/10) and in a symm etrical planar bifurcation (bifurcation angle of 70 degrees, area rati o of 0.8) using a finite element method. The fluid is assumed to be in compressible. Its shear-thinning behaviour is modelled by a generalize d Newtonian constitutive law, described by the Carreau model. The fiel ds of the involved physical quantities are compared to those obtained with a Newtonian fluid. The non-Newtonian blood flow is strongly diffe rent from the flow computed with the usual viscosity of the blood, ass umed to be Newtonian. However, less discrepancy is expected in large b lood vessels.