To what extent does a minimal atherosclerotic plaque alter the arterial wall shear stress distribution? A model study by an electrochemical method

An electrochemical surface shear stress measurement was applied to a model of very thin unilateral arterial stenosis (height of 1/8 of the model pipe diameter with very smooth surface). Three-dimensional wall shear stress distributions were measured under steady flow field from a relatively low Reynolds number, Re=270, to a high Reynolds number, Re=1200. There was a characteristic high and low wall shear distribution pattern around the stenosis. There were also remarkable high shear stress areas on the opposite wall and both side walls of the stenosis. It was clearly shown that a three-dimensional structure of the flow field, hence, the wall shear stress distribution, is affected by a minimal change on the arterial wall.