Numerical simulation of blood flow through the system of coronary arteries with diseased left anterior descending

Abstract

This paper aims to study the arterial stenosis effect on blood flow problem in the system of coronary arteries. Blood is assumed to be non- Newtonian incompressible fluid. The system of coronary arteries with diseased Left Anterior Descending (LAD) is considered. Governing equations are the Navier-Stokes equations and continuity equation subjected to the time-dependent pulsatile boundary con- ditions. Based on finite element method, the solution of the governing equations is solved numerically. Disturbances of blood flow through the diseased LAD for the restrictions of 25%, 50% and 75% are investigated. Flow characteristics, wall pressure and wall shear rate have been studied in detail. Numerical studies show that blood flow with high speed and pressure rapidly drops in the area supplied by the stenosed artery. As the degree of coronary-artery stenosis increases, the maximal coronary flow decreases.