Flow-induced Wall Shear Stress in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Part I - Steady Flow Hemodynamics

• Published in: Computer methods in biomechanics and biomedical engineering 2002, Vol.5 (4), p.309-318
• Main Authors: Finol, Ender A., Amon, Cristina H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aneurysms; Aorta, Abdominal - physiopathology; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - physiopathology; Blood Flow Velocity; Blood Pressure; Computer Simulation; Elasticity; Hemodynamics; Humans; Models, Cardiovascular; Sensitivity and Specificity; Shear Stress; Statistics as Topic; Steady Flow; Stress, Mechanical; Wall Shear Stress Gradient
• ISSN: 1025-5842; 1476-8259
• DOI: 10.1080/1025584021000009742

Numerical predictions of blood flow patterns and hemodynamic stresses in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAAs) are performed in a two-aneurysm, axisymmetric, rigid wall model using the spectral element method. Homogeneous, Newtonian blood flow is simulated under steady conditions for the range of Reynolds numbers 10 h Re h 2265. Flow hemodynamics are quantified by calculating the distributions of wall pressure (p w ), wall shear stress ( w ), Wall Shear Stress Gradient (WSSG). A correlation between maximum values of hemodynamic stresses and Reynolds number is established, and the spatial distribution of WSSG is considered as a hemodynamic force that may cause damage to the arterial wall at an intermediate stage of AAA growth. The temporal distribution of hemodynamic stresses in pulsatile flow and their physical implications in AAA rupture are discussed in Part II of this paper.