NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF PULSATING FLOW IN THE AORTIC-ARCH

In order to investigate the flow profiles in the aorta a numerical thr ee-dimensional model of the aortic arch was created, The velocity fiel ds were simulated by applying an inlet velocity corresponding to the p hysiological velocity of the pressure wave at the aortic valve. The ve locity field distribution was found to be uniform throughout the model during the time of increasing inlet velocities. With decreasing inlet velocities a region of low flow developed in the descending portion o f the model leading to recirculating flow at the inner wall. At this r egion of low flow the variation in velocity with time at the inner wal l was approximately twice the variation at the outer wall. As a result of the recirculating flow, the wall shear stresses at the inner wall are low and oscillating, predisposing to the development of atheroscle rosis. This model shows that transient fluid flow in the aortic arch c an be simulated. Biological studies are needed to prove that this mode l can be used to predict sites of pathology.