A Computer Simulation of Blood Flow in Arterial Networks, Including Blood Non-Newtonian Models and Arterial Stenosis

The goals of this research are: 1. To construct a software that can determine pressure and flow at different points of an arbitrary arterial network; 2. To investigate the effect of non-Newtonian model on pressure and flow waves in comparison with Newtonian model. The main assumptions in our physical model are: 1- Blood flow is one dimensional and in axial direction; 2- Arteries are elastic cylindrical tubes; 3-Blood flow is laminar. The method of analysis is finite element technique. Three element types have been used: 1- Artery element for an unobstructed healthy artery, 2- Branch element for three or more artery element connections and 3- Stenosis element for an artery stenosis. Arterioles and capillary beds at the ends of arteries have been electrically modeled as a "developed Windkessel model" that includes a capacitance and a resistance in series and a resistance parallel with them. The numerical solvers were written in C++ computer language.