Computational simulation of flow in the aortic arch (Influence of the 3-D distortion on flows in the ordinary helix circular tube)

Recent research has shown that the centerline of the human aortic arch does not lie in a plane, but has a three-dimensional (3-D) distortion. This distortion is thought to be a risk factor in the development of aneurysms. In the present study, the aorta was numerically modeled using a computational fluid dynamics method. The flow geometry consisted of a circular tube with a centerline approximated by an ordinary helix. A region with a high component of longitudinal wall shear stress was found distributed along the direction of the torsion. The localization of the wall shear stress distribution is due to complex centrifugal forces, and is discussed with respect to the development of vascular diseases including aneurysms and atherosclerosis.