Velocity and shear stress distributions downstream of a Jellyfish valve in a model of natural aortic root

Under steady flow conditions experiments were conducted to examine the fluid flow regime through a Jellyfish valve inserted into an aortic chamber with sinuses of Valsalva. The diagnostic Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) technique was used to determine the instantaneous velocity fields including shear stress distributions downstream of the valve. Maximum turbulent shear stresses were found to be 85 and 277 N/rn2 at O.5D downstream ofthe valve under flow rates of 15 and 26 1/mm respectively. This values are critical to lethal erythrocyte and platelet damages. Furthermore flow reversal was observed at a location O.5D downstream under flow rate of 1 5 1/mm. This may also encourages thrombus formation