Helical Flow Around Arterial Bends for Varying Body Mass

Abstract

The three dimensionally curved aortic arch is modeled as a portion of a helical pipe. Pulsatile blood flow therein is calculated assuming helical symmetry and an experimentally measured pressure pulse. Appropriate values for the Womersley and Reynolds numbers are taken from allometric scaling relations for a variety of body masses. The flow structure is discussed with particular reference to the wall shear, which is believed to be important in the inhibition of atheroma. It is found that nonplanar curvature limits the severity of flow separation at the inner bend, and reduces spatial variation of wall shear.