Blood flow dynamics in patient specific arterial network in head and neck

Abstract

This paper shows a steady simulation of blood flow in the major head and neck arteries as if they had rigid walls, using patient specific geometry and CFD software FLUENT R . The Artery geometry is obtained by CT–scan segmentation with the commercial software ScanIPTM. A cause and effect study with various Reynolds numbers, viscous models and blood fluid models is provided. Mesh independence is achieved through wall y+ and pressure gradient adaption. It was found, that a Newtonian fluid model is not appropriate for all geometry parts, therefore the non–Newtonian properties of blood are required for small vessel diameters and low Reynolds numbers. The k–! turbulence model is suitable for the whole Reynolds numbe