Influence of non-Newtonian flow behavior on local

The influence of non-Newtonian blood pow in large arteries is studied numer ically. The model studies are carried out to demonstrate the shear thinning effect at increased sheer rates resulting from the reversible destruction of red blood cell aggregates and to show basic viscoelastic effects. The ma thematical models considered use the conservation of momentum and of mass a nd constitutive relations describing the shear thinning behavior and relati ons of Jeffreys type (Oldroyd-B model). The numerical approach applies the finite element method. The non-Newtonian inelastic effects are demonstrated in, a curved tube model and in an anatomically and physiologically realist ic artery bifurcation model. The viscoelastic flow study is carried out usi ng an axisymmetric tube with a local constriction modeling a stenosed blood vessel. The assumption of physiologically realistic shear thinning behavio r shows a minor quantitative influence on local flow patterns compared with Newtonian reference flow.