Three-dimensional pulsatile flow through asymmetrically and symmetrically constricted vessels

Comparisons are made between two- and three-dimensional pulsatile flow through asymmetrically and symmetrically constricted vessels. Most significantly, mean shear stress distributions and levels of oscillation (which have important implications for the prediction of stenosis pathology) are very different, both qualitatively and with respect to peak values. Maximum mean shear stresses are almost 40% higher for the asymmetric constrictions. They are also approximately 30% higher than produced in two-dimensional simulations. The distribution of oscillating wall shear stress suggests ways in which secondary lesions may develop. We also show that the so-called 'vortex wave' produced by an asymmetric two-dimensional constriction does not exist in a three-dimensional simulation at the Reynolds and Strouhal numbers of 600 and 0.03 considered here