Stenotic effects in a tube of elliptic cross-section at low Reynolds numbers.

ABSTRACT

With an objective to understanding arteriosclerosis, the blood flow in a cylindrical tube with local constriction is analysed. The cross-section of the tube is an ellipse, the axes of which are in an arbitrary position with respect to the axis of the tube. Blood is taken to be a Newtonian and homogeneous fluid. The cross-sectional area varies slowly with the longitudinal distance and the area change is so adjusted to take account of stenosis. The transverse velocity field and the effects of inertia on the primary velocity and pressure distribution are calculated to a first order in the relevant small parameter and effects of asymmetry on the wall shear stress and impedance are presented.