Three dimensional pulsatile non-Newtonian flow in a stenotic vessel

This study investigates the pulsatile simulations of non_Newtonian flows in a stenotic vessel. Four non-Newtonian blood models, namely the Power Law, Casson, Carreau and the Generalized Power Law, as well as the Newtonian model of blood viscosity, are used to investigate the flow effects induced by these different blood constitutive equations. The aim of this study are three fold: firstly, to investigate the variation in wall shear stress in an artery with a stenosis at different flow rates and degrees of severity; secondly, to compare the various blood models and hence quantify the differences between the models and judge their significance and lastly, to determine whether the use of the Newtonian blood model is appropriate over a wide range of shear rates. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014.