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Relative residence time and oscillatory shear index of non-Newtonian flow

models in aorta

Conference Paper · October 2011

DOI: 10.1109/iwbe.2011.6079011

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 Relative Residence Time and Oscillatory Shear Index of Non-
Newtonian Flow Models in Aorta
Johannes V. Soulis, Olga P. Lampri, Dimitrios K. Fytanidis, and George D. Giannoglou
Abstract—Four molecular Non-Newtonian viscosity models
plus the Newtonian one were analyzed for the normal human
aorta under oscillating flow via: molecular viscosity, time
Average Wall Shear Stress (AWSS), Oscillatory Shear Index
(OSI) and Relative Residence Time (RRT). The capabilities of
the applied non-Newtonian law models appear at low strain
rates. The Newtonian blood flow treatment is considered to be a
good approximation at mid-and high-strain rates. All blood
flow models yield a consistent aorta pattern. High RRT values
develop in the concave part of the aortic arch downstream to
left subclavian artery. In this region the molecular viscosity is
elevated, the WSS is low and the OSI is high. Concave aorta
parts are prone to exhibit elevated RRT. The non-Newtonian
Power Law blood flow model approximates the molecular
viscosity, WSS, OSI and particularly the RRT in a more
satisfactory way. High RRT distribution is emerging as an
appropriate tool for identifying the possible regions of
atheromatic concentrations.
I. INTRODUCTION
A hypothesis, that an increased plasma viscosity may be
a link between cardiovascular risk factors and coronary
heart disease, is supported [1]. The role of viscosity in
the development and progression of coronary/arterial heart
disease is important [2] and [3]. Atherosclerosis shows
preference localization at sites where flow is either slow or
disturbed and where Wall Shear Stress (WSS) as well as
their gradients are low [4]. According to non-Newtonian
behavior, viscosity is velocity gradient-dependent and
subsequently varies along the course of the vessel.
Henceforth, the variation depends on the applied flow
conditions, vascular geometry, flow particularities and local
flow composition. Capable blood viscosity models are
needed to capture the main flow characteristics at low strain
rates [5].
Besides molecular viscosity distribution, the temporal
variation during the cardiac cycle of the hemodynamic
mechanical parameters has been proposed as an atherogenic
factor [6]. Complex configuration of the vessel promotes
flow disturbances with low time-averaged WSS and high
shear stress temporal oscillations during the cardiac cycle
Manuscript submitted on the 10th of June 2011.
J. V. Soulis is, is with Fluid Mechanics Division, Faculty of Engineering,
Democrition University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, GREECE. (e-mail:
soulis@civil.duth.gr).
O. P. Lampri is with Fluid Mechanics Division, Faculty of Engineering,
Democrition University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, GREECE. (e-mail:
olgalampri@gmail.com ).
D. K. Fytanidis, is with Fluid Mechanics Division, Faculty of
Engineering, Democrition University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, GREECE.
(Phone: ++302310260011, Fax: ++302310994837,
dfytanid@civil.duth.gr).
G. D. Giannoglou 1st Cardiology Department, Cardiovascular
Engineering and Atherosclerosis Laboratory, AHEPA General Hospital,
Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, GREECE. (yan@med.auth.gr).
978-1-4577-0554-0/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE
[6]. The application of unsteady flow constitutes a
challenging issue, since it demands computational power
and analysis time. The Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) and the
Relative Residence Time (RRT), which indicates the time of
residence the molecules spent at endothelium, are emerging
as appropriate tools for atherosclerosis localization, [7].
However, little research has focused on the exact role of
local viscosity differentiation within the aortic arch and its
implications to atherogenesis under oscillating flows.
The choice and application of an appropriate non-
Newtonian model for the cardiovascular flow analysis,
which would put emphasis in low strain rates, is crucial in
achieving acceptable results. In the current research work,
four non-Newtonian models plus the Newtonian one are
compared in a normal human aortic arch under oscillating
flow conditions. These models are: Power Law [8], Carreau
[8], Casson [9], Non-Newtonian Power Law [8] and the
Newtonian one. The time-Average Wall Shear Stress
(AWSS), Molecular Viscosity, Oscillatory Shear Index
(OSI) and Relative Residence Time (RRT) are analyzed.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
A. Geometry Reconstruction
The first step is to generate the aortic arch centerline.
Thereafter, the daughter vessels centerlines are generated
and placed at the appropriate aortic arch centerline locations.
Finally, various vessel cross-sections, taken every 1.0 mm,
are set perpendicular to ascending-descending aortic arch
and daughter vessel centerlines at the appropriate locations.
These data are processed and resulted into a 3D geometry
model of the aortic arch, Fig.1. The computational model
includes the ascending aorta, brachiocephalic artery, left
common carotid artery, left subclavian artery and
descending aorta. The lumen diameter of the ascending aorta
at entrance measures 3.477 cm. The descending aorta outlet
diameter is 3.076 cm, while the corresponding outlet
diameters of the brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid
artery and left subclavian artery segments are 1.435 cm,
1.273 cm and 1.433 cm, respectively. The computational
grid consists of 797000 cells and 318000 grid nodes.
B. Non-Newtonian models
In total, four different non-Newtonian computational
analyses are performed using the underneath blood viscosity
models (plus the Newtonian model),
Newtonian model
e-mail:
μ = 0.00345 kg / m − s (1)
 G
stress tensor and ρ g (N/m3) the gravitational body force. The
shear stress tensor τ is,
G G G
(
τ = μ ⎡⎣ ∇u + ∇u T ⎤⎦ ) (13)
μ is the molecular viscosity.

D. Boundary Conditions
The applied velocity inlet pulse wave is shown in Fig. 2.
The pulse period of this waveform is 800.0 msec. The
outflow discharges were calculated using a slightly modified
version of the Murray’s Law (the power index was set equal
to 2.4), [10]. The applied flow discharges are as follows:
ascending aorta (100.0 %), brachiocephalic artery (3.8 %),
Fig. 1 Aortic arch geometry
left common carotid artery (6.8 %) and left subclavian artery
(8.8 %) and descending aorta (80.6 %).
Power Law model
μ = μ 0 (γ ) n − 1 , μ 0 = 0.035 kg / m − s , n = 0.6 (2)
Carreau model
[
μ = μ ∞ + (μ 0 − μ ∞ ) 1 + (λγ )2 ](n −1) / 2 (3)
λ = 3.313 s , n = 0.3568 , μ 0 = 0.056 kg / m − s (4)
μ ∞ = 0.00345 kg / m − s and γ 1/s is the strain rate
Casson model
⎡
μ = ⎢η 2J2
⎣
(1/ 4
) ⎤
+ 2 − 1 / 2 τ 1y / 2 ⎥ 2 J 2− 1 / 2
⎦
(5)

γ = 2 J 2 , τ y = 0.1(0.625 H ) 3 (6) Fig. 2 The applied blood waveform at the aortic arch inlet

η = η 0 (1 − H )−2.5 , η 0 = 0.0012 kg / m − s and H = 0.37 (7) E. Wall Shear Stress and Oscillating Shear Index
Non-Newtonian Power Law model The components of the WSS possibly have different effects
According to this law the fluid shear stress, denoted by τ upon endothelial cells. The actual shear stress, given by
(N/m2), is calculated as, Eq.12, is applied for the wall (Wall Shear Stress, WSS). The
time-Averaged WSS magnitude (AWSS) is defined as,
∂ui ∂u j
To
(8) 1Τ G
τ = ⎡⎣ μ (γ ) ⎤⎦ γ γ = + μ = ke T γ n −1 AWSS = ∫ WSS dt (14)
∂x j ∂xi T0
G
k=consistency index ( kg − s n − 2 / m ), n=power- WSS is the instantaneous WSS (N/m2) magnitude and T
law index, T0 = reference temperature (k), (sec) is the pulse period.
n = 0.7 , T0 = 310 k , k = 0.00622 kg s n_ 2
/m (9) Another transient flow property, related with the wall, is
the magnitude of time-Averaged WSS vector (AWSSV)
defined as,
C. Flow Equations 1 Τ G (15)
The assumptions made about the nature of the flow are that AWSSV = ∫ WSSdt
T 0
it is: 3D, steady, laminar, isothermal, with no external forces Another mechanical factor related to flow oscillation is the
applied on it. The arterial wall is comprised from non-elastic OSI, which monitors the differences between AWSS and
and permeable material. In their generality the flow AWSSV values. Using these values, the OSI clarifies the
governing equations are, WSS vector deflection from blood flow predominant
∂ρ G
+ ∇• (ρu ) = 0 (10) direction, during cardiac cycle. Thus, OSI is calculated,
∂t ⎛ Τ G ⎞
G ⎜ ∫ W SSdt ⎟ (16)
ρ (kg/m ) is the density, t (sec) is the time, u (m/s) is the
3
O SI = 0.5 × ⎜ 1.0 − Τ 0 G ⎟
velocity vector. The conservation of momentum (in the ⎜ ⎟
⎜ ∫ W SS dt ⎟
general form) is, ⎝ 0 ⎠
∂ G The OSI value can vary from 0.0, for no-cyclic variation of
(ρu ) + ∇• (ρuGuG ) + ∇p = ∇• ( τ ) + ρgG (11) WSS vector, to 0.5, for 180.0o deflection of WSS direction.
∂t

τ = μγ (12) F. Relative Residence Time (RRT)
2
Here, p (N/m ) is the static pressure; τ (N/m ) is the shear
2
The Relative Residence Time (RRT) is introduced [10] as,
 encountered at brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid
RRT ~ [( 1 − 2.0 × OSI ) × AWSS ]−1 (17) artery and left subclavian artery. Furthermore, high OSI
The proportionality of the above equation is of relative values develop at the convex part of the ascending aorta as
importance since the results are presented as normalized well as at the concave aortic part downstream to left
ones. The OSI modifies the AWSS effects on the RRT at a subclavian artery.
given region of the endothelium. Henceforth, the RRT a) b)
parameter includes the effects of both OSI and AWSS.
Convergence is achieved when all mass, velocity
component and energy changes, from iteration to iteration,
achieved less than 10-6 accuracy. The ANSYS commercial
code is utilized, [11]

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The detailed results of only two blood flow models,
namely the Carreau and the Non-Newtonian Power Law are
presented here.

A. Time Average Wall Shear Stress Fig. 4 Molecular Viscosity (kg/m-s) distribution at the very end of the
The AWSS (N/m2) contours over the entire aortic cardiac cycle for a) Carreau flow model and b) Non-Newtonian Power Law
flow model
surfaces for Carreau flow model and Non-Newtonian Power
Law flow model are shown in Figs. 3a,b, respectively. High a)
AWSS is encountered at the convex parts of the curved flow
regions. Low AWSS develops at the concave parts of the
curved flow regions. Furthermore, the flow within the aortic
branches is strongly dependent upon the geometry of the
branch and its particular placement within the aorta.
a) b)

b)
Fig. 3 Time-average Wall Shear Stress (N/m2) magnitude distributions for
a) Carreau flow model, b) Non-Newtonian Power Law flow model

B. Molecular Viscosity
For the Carreau flow model, the molecular viscosity
values for the entire aorta, typically at the very end of the
cardiac cycle, range from 0.0083 kg/m-s to 0.052 kg/m-s,
Fig. 4a. The range between maximum and minimum
molecular viscosity values using non-Newtonian Power Law
is 0.005-0.05 kg/m-s, the range for Power Law is 0.0005-
0.0048 kg/m-s and the range for the Casson Law is 0.0045-
0.0085, for the same time instant. Figure 4b shows the
molecular viscosity for the non-Newtonian Power Law
model. High molecular viscosity values develop in the
concave part of the aortic arch downstream to left subclavian
artery.
Fig. 5 Oscillatory Shear Index distribution for
a) Carreau flow model and b) Non-Newtonian Power Law flow model
C. Oscillatory Shear Index
The OSI reveals the overall WSS vector oscillation during D. Residence Time
the cardiac pulse wave. The OSI contours of the aortic arch Contours of the RRT are shown in Figs. 6a,b for Carreau
are shown in Figs. 5a,b, respectively. All models predict flow model and Non-Newtonian Power Law flow model,
similar behavior. High OSI values, reaching the 0.44, are respectively. High RRT values, reaching more than 15 for
 Carreau Law and more than 18 for Non-Newtonian Power
Law, develop in the concave part of the aortic arch
downstream to left subclavian artery. All models predict
similar RRT distribution. However, the Power Law model
predicts high RRT value reaching 55.
E. Average Wall Shear Stress versus Oscillatory Shear
Index
Typical relationship between AWSS and OSI over the
entire aortic surfaces for Carreau flow model and Non-
Newtonian Power Law flow model are shown in Figs. 7a,b,
respectively. It is evident that increasing OSI values co-exist
with decreasing WSS. Similar relationships hold for the other
non-Newtonian blood flow models, not shown.
a)
b)
Fig. 6 Relative Residence Time distribution for
a) Carreau flow model and b) Non-Newtonian Power Law flow model
IV. CONCLUSION
Four molecular viscosity models plus the Newtonian one
were analyzed for the normal human aorta under oscillating
flow. All blood flow models yield a consistent aorta pattern
for all tested biomechanical parameters. High RRT values
develop in the concave part of the aortic arch downstream to
left subclavian artery. In this region the molecular viscosity
is elevated, the WSS is low and the OSI is high. Concave
aorta parts are prone to exhibit elevated RRT. The non-
Newtonian Power Law blood flow model approximates the
molecular viscosity, WSS, OSI and particularly the RRT in a
more satisfactory way, particularly at low strain rates. RRT
distribution (high values) emerges as an appropriate tool for
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identifying the possible regions of atheromatic plaque
localization.
a)
b)
Fig. 7 Time-average Wall Shear Stress (N/m2) versus Oscillatory Shear
Index for a) Carreau flow model and b) Non-Newtonian Power Law flow
model
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