DOI: 10.1615/TSFP3
TURBULENT FLOW CHARACTERISTICS IN A STENOSED ARTERIAL MODEL WITH RELEVANCE TO ATHEROSCLEROSIS
ABSTRAKT
The flow field downstream of a nominally concentric 75% axisymmetric area reduction in a tube subjected to a sinusoidal pulsatile waveform is presented herein. The flow field is measured using phase-locked Particle Image Velocimetry at six phase angles. Steady vortical structures are observed in the shear layer from approximately 1.5 tube diameters to 3.7 tube diameters downstream of the stenosis throat. These stationary vortices induce a spatially varying core flow velocity. Additionally, the stenosis creates an annular vortex upstream of the occlusion near the velocity minimum of the pulsatile waveform. These regions of disturbed flow are known to be atherogenic, particularly when the wall shear stress is very low and/or oscillatory.