See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/235957864

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

models in aorta

Conference Paper · October 2011

DOI: 10.1109/iwbe.2011.6079011

CITATIONS READS
44 4,329

4 authors, including:

Johannes Vassiliou Soulis Dimitrios K. Fytanidis

Democritus University of Thrace University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Argonne National Laboratory
116 PUBLICATIONS   1,501 CITATIONS    40 PUBLICATIONS   405 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

George Giannoglou
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
150 PUBLICATIONS   4,661 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

LDL concentration View project

PhD: Development of classification system methodologies for tissue characterization in IVUS images View project

All content following this page was uploaded by George Giannoglou on 26 February 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 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 [6]. The application of unsteady flow constitutes a
plus the Newtonian one were analyzed for the normal human challenging issue, since it demands computational power
aorta under oscillating flow via: molecular viscosity, time and analysis time. The Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) and the
Average Wall Shear Stress (AWSS), Oscillatory Shear Index Relative Residence Time (RRT), which indicates the time of
(OSI) and Relative Residence Time (RRT). The capabilities of residence the molecules spent at endothelium, are emerging
the applied non-Newtonian law models appear at low strain as appropriate tools for atherosclerosis localization, [7].
rates. The Newtonian blood flow treatment is considered to be a
However, little research has focused on the exact role of
good approximation at mid-and high-strain rates. All blood
flow models yield a consistent aorta pattern. High RRT values local viscosity differentiation within the aortic arch and its
develop in the concave part of the aortic arch downstream to implications to atherogenesis under oscillating flows.
left subclavian artery. In this region the molecular viscosity is The choice and application of an appropriate non-
elevated, the WSS is low and the OSI is high. Concave aorta Newtonian model for the cardiovascular flow analysis,
parts are prone to exhibit elevated RRT. The non-Newtonian which would put emphasis in low strain rates, is crucial in
Power Law blood flow model approximates the molecular achieving acceptable results. In the current research work,
viscosity, WSS, OSI and particularly the RRT in a more
four non-Newtonian models plus the Newtonian one are
satisfactory way. High RRT distribution is emerging as an
appropriate tool for identifying the possible regions of compared in a normal human aortic arch under oscillating
atheromatic concentrations. flow conditions. These models are: Power Law [8], Carreau
[8], Casson [9], Non-Newtonian Power Law [8] and the
I. INTRODUCTION Newtonian one. The time-Average Wall Shear Stress

A hypothesis, that an increased plasma viscosity may be (AWSS), Molecular Viscosity, Oscillatory Shear Index
a link between cardiovascular risk factors and coronary (OSI) and Relative Residence Time (RRT) are analyzed.
heart disease, is supported [1]. The role of viscosity in
the development and progression of coronary/arterial heart II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
disease is important [2] and [3]. Atherosclerosis shows
preference localization at sites where flow is either slow or A. Geometry Reconstruction
disturbed and where Wall Shear Stress (WSS) as well as The first step is to generate the aortic arch centerline.
their gradients are low [4]. According to non-Newtonian Thereafter, the daughter vessels centerlines are generated
behavior, viscosity is velocity gradient-dependent and and placed at the appropriate aortic arch centerline locations.
subsequently varies along the course of the vessel. Finally, various vessel cross-sections, taken every 1.0 mm,
Henceforth, the variation depends on the applied flow are set perpendicular to ascending-descending aortic arch
conditions, vascular geometry, flow particularities and local and daughter vessel centerlines at the appropriate locations.
flow composition. Capable blood viscosity models are These data are processed and resulted into a 3D geometry
needed to capture the main flow characteristics at low strain model of the aortic arch, Fig.1. The computational model
rates [5]. includes the ascending aorta, brachiocephalic artery, left
Besides molecular viscosity distribution, the temporal common carotid artery, left subclavian artery and
variation during the cardiac cycle of the hemodynamic descending aorta. The lumen diameter of the ascending aorta
mechanical parameters has been proposed as an atherogenic at entrance measures 3.477 cm. The descending aorta outlet
factor [6]. Complex configuration of the vessel promotes diameter is 3.076 cm, while the corresponding outlet
flow disturbances with low time-averaged WSS and high diameters of the brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid
shear stress temporal oscillations during the cardiac cycle 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.
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: B. Non-Newtonian models
[email protected]). In total, four different non-Newtonian computational
O. P. Lampri is with Fluid Mechanics Division, Faculty of Engineering,
analyses are performed using the underneath blood viscosity
Democrition University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, GREECE. (e-mail:
[email protected] ). models (plus the Newtonian model),
D. K. Fytanidis, is with Fluid Mechanics Division, Faculty of
Engineering, Democrition University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, GREECE. Newtonian model
(Phone: ++302310260011, Fax: ++302310994837, e-mail:
[email protected]).
μ = 0.00345 kg / m − s (1)
G. D. Giannoglou 1st Cardiology Department, Cardiovascular
Engineering and Atherosclerosis Laboratory, AHEPA General Hospital,
Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, GREECE. ([email protected]).

978-1-4577-0554-0/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

 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 identifying the possible regions of atheromatic plaque
Law, develop in the concave part of the aortic arch localization.
downstream to left subclavian artery. All models predict
a)
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. b)

a)

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

REFERENCES
[1] R. Junker, J. Heinrich, H. Ulbrich, R. Schonfeld, E. Kohler, G.
b) Assman, “Relationship between plasma viscosity and the severity of
coronary heart disease”, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., Vol. 18, pp.
870-875, 1998.
[2] R.C. Becker, “The role of blood viscosity in the development and
progression of coronary artery disease”, Cleve. Clin. J. Med., Vol. 60,
pp. 353-358, 1993.
[3] Y.I. Cho, K.R. Kensey, “Effects of the non-Newtonian viscosity of
blood on flows in a diseased arterial vessel, Part 1: Steady flows”,
Biorheology, Vol. 28, pp. 241-262, 1991.
[4] T.M. Farmakis, J.V. Soulis, G.D. Giannoglou, G.J. Zioupos, G.E.
Louridas, “Wall shear stress gradient topography in the normal left
coronary arterial tree: possible implications for atherogenesis”, Curr.
Med. Res. Opin., Vol. 20, pp. 587-596, 2004.
[5] D.N. Ghista, E. Van Vollenhoven, W.-J. Yang, H.Reul, “Blood:
Rheology, hemolysis, gas and surface interactions”, S. Karger, New
York. 165 pp, 1979.
[6] J.V. Soulis, T.M. Farmakis, G.D. Giannoglou, G.E. Louridas, G.E.
Parcharidis, “Spatial and phasic oscillation of non-Newtonian wall
Fig. 6 Relative Residence Time distribution for shear stress in human left coronary artery bifurcation, an insight to
a) Carreau flow model and b) Non-Newtonian Power Law flow model atherogenesis”, Coron Artery Dis, Vol. 17, pp. 351-358, 2006.
[7] H.A. Himburg, D.M. Grzybowski, A.L. Hazel, J.A. LaMack, M.H.
Friedman, “Spatial comparison between wall shear stress measures and
IV. CONCLUSION porcine arterial endothelial permeability”, Am. J. Physiol.-Heart. Circ.
Four molecular viscosity models plus the Newtonian one Physiol., Vol. 286, pp. 1916–1922, 2004.
were analyzed for the normal human aorta under oscillating [8] K. Sharma, K., S.V. Bhat, “Non-Newtonian rheology of leukemic
flow. All blood flow models yield a consistent aorta pattern blood and plasma: are n and k parameters of power Law model
diagnostic?”, Physiol. Chem. Phys. Med. NMR, Vol. 24, pp. 307-312,
for all tested biomechanical parameters. High RRT values 1992.
develop in the concave part of the aortic arch downstream to [9] Y.C.Fung, “Biomechanics: Mechanical properties of living tissues”, 2nd
left subclavian artery. In this region the molecular viscosity Edition Springer, Berlin 57, pp, 1976.
is elevated, the WSS is low and the OSI is high. Concave [10] C.D. Murray, “The physiological principle of minimum work. I. The
aorta parts are prone to exhibit elevated RRT. The non- vascular system and the cost of blood volume”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.,
Vol. 12, pp. 207–214, 1926.
Newtonian Power Law blood flow model approximates the
[11] ANSYS FLUENT 12.0 Documentation, http://www.ansys.com , 2009
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

View publication stats