Comparison of various hemodynamic models for applications to CFD in stent arteries

Abstract

This work assesses three hemodynamic models for the numerical modeling of intra-stent flows. These are the classical Poiseuille model (PM), the simplified pulsatile model (SPM) and the complete pulsatile model (CPM) based on the analysis of Womersley. They are applied to the physiological flow rate of a stented left coronary artery. The CFD package "Ansys Fluent 14.5" is used to compute the main features of the flows. The results show large differences between the steady and unsteady models notably for the wall shear stress and the re-circulation lengths, which are known to promote intra-stent restenosis. The PM is obviously not pertinent to calculate the flows involved in intra-stent restenosis. The CPM and SPM give close results but the latter model is by far less time-demanding and should be preferred.