Numerical simulation of the Womersley

flow
Lab assignment
Barbero Mota, Marco; Paz Cacheiro Jos; Rodrguez Maroto, Gabriel

Session 1: Introduction to pulsatile flow

Order of magnitude analysis of the dimensionless momentum equation
Questions a) to d) are included at the appendix.
e) Once the solution converges:

Figure 1: dimensionless velocity at the axis (= 0) as a function of dimensionless time for Wo = 0.1;

Figure 2: dimensionless velocity at the axis (= 0) as a function of dimensionless time for Wo = 5;

Figure 3: dimensionless velocity at the axis (= 0) as a function of dimensionless time for Wo = 30;

In the first graph (Figure 1), Wo=0.1, clearly smaller than 1. As a consequence,
the flow is dominated by inertial terms over viscous terms resulting in a graph
with parabolic profiles. In the case of the second graph (Figure 2), the value of
Wo is 5, being an intermediate value, which explains why this graph can be
interpreted as a combination of some features of the first and the last graphs.
At this graph, we can already appreciate how the parabolic shape of the first
graph is starting to be lost. Finally, at the last graph (Figure 3), the parabolic
profile has disappeared indicating that viscosity dominates over inertia since
Wo has grown to 30.
In conclusion, the different graphs show the evolution of the velocity profile (as
a function of the dimensionless radius) according to different values of Wo
while indicating whether viscosity dominates over inertia or viceversa.

Session 2: Analysis of the pseudotransient method.

Mathematical analysis of the pseudo-transient method
Questions from a) to g) are included in the appendix.
h)

Figure 4: dimensionless velocities as a function of dimensionless time with different initial velocities.

i) As we can observe, convergence seems to appear at 25. Theoretically

that is the right result as
2

Wo =5 =25
However, a deeper approach to the graph reveals how this dimensionless time
increases a little bit when the initial condition reaches 100/Wo 2, reaching a
value close to 35. (It must be taken into account that the theoretical value is
just an approximation.)

j) As Wo has been
20, convergence

increased until
also delays:

Wo2=202 =400

Figure 4.1: dimensionless velocities as a function of dimensionless time with different initial velocities. (Amplification)

Figure 5: dimensionless velocities as a function of dimensionless time with different initial velocities with Wo=20.

=300 the green velocity

start to approach, although, in principle, convergence is not reached until
Looking at the graph, it can be observe how at
400.

Session 3: Modeling realistic cardiovascular flow:

a)
2

Wo =

R (2 ) R

3 2

2 ( 2.91 10 )
1100
Wo =

=17.214
0.85
0.004
2

Then ,Wo=4.149
From this result, as Wo is greater than 1 but not significantly, the resulting
motion of the fluid will be influenced significantly by both terms of the
equation, being the flow dominated by viscosity at the walls, whereas at the
center, inertia forces control it.
b)

Figure 6: Dimensionless time evolution of pressure gradient and dimensionless velocities as a function of the dimensionless time
for different nodes.

It is convenient to mention that at the wall i=N+1 (i= 81) (=1) there exists
the non-slip boundary condition (fixed wall) which makes u=0 and close to it
(i=80(N),79(N-1) and 75(N-5)) viscous terms determine the nature of the flow,

however, at i=1 (=0) (at the axis) the motion of the fluid is totally dominated
by inertial terms.
It also can be said that near the wall the velocity profile resembles to be very
close to the shape of the periodic pressure gradient one, although it is more
attenuated as getting closer to the wall due to the non-slip condition.
However, at the axis, the velocity profile is smoother with respect to the
pressure gradient one, although the peaks and valleys (maximum and
minimum values) appear at same

values.

This differences of similarity to the pressure gradient profile shape are due to
the fact that:
From the general momentum equation

Wo

u 2 1
u

(
)=p l
2

2
2 u
Wo
Inertial term (at the axis):
2 ;

Viscous term (near the wall):

1
u
(
)

The first one depends on

and the second one on , so when obtaining

the solution (u:velocity) by integration, if we do it with respect to

(at the

axis) the solution will be a function different from the pressure gradient with
respect to

, and therefore its profile versus

will be different from the

pressure gradient one. However if we do it with respect to

the only with

that varies with respect to the pressure gradient is the amplitude of the profile
versus

but not the shape.

Session 4: Computation of the flow rate along the ICA

Dimensionless time evolution of the dimensionless pressure gradient (pl vs.

\tau )

Dimensionless time evolution (u(\xi,\tau) vs \tau) velocity at the axis

Dimensionless time evolution (u(\xi,\tau) vs \tau) velocity at different points in
the wall