PDF File pdf 417KB

CFD Model Development of Aortic Blood Flow

The ascending aorta is the main artery that supplies all the systemic circulation in the human body. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be used to investigate a number of different phenomena that occur during the cardiac cycle. In order to assess cardiac behavior and fluid flow in the aorta, computational techniques can be used. CFD typically consists of three major categories; pre-processing, solving, and post processing. Pre-processing, or model development has a significant effect on the accuracy and scope of results of a CFD study. Consequently, the focus of this paper is on the model development for aortic blood flow for healthy cardiac patients. Particular emphasis in this paper is on investigating three different aorta models. Three different geometric reconstructions were used, representing aortic passageways obtained from CT scan data. The models used were an optimized CT aorta model, an unrefined CT aorta model, and an idealized tube model. Changes were also made in the mesh generation to determine the impact of the quality of mesh. An evaluation of CFD model development for steady-state and varying geometries and mesh qualities are presented and discussed. A steady case solution will present a generalized average blood flow in the aorta and the stress impact on its walls, useful in clinical assessment. A steady case solution will also provide the tools in which to verify our results by comparison to previously completed studies and measurements. This work is done to develop useful quality criteria that can be used in CFD analysis of the aorta.