Journal of Computational Applied Mechanics

Numerical Simulation and Visualization of Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Hemodynamics in a Stenotic Blood Vessel

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MPESG, Corrosion Lab, 3-08, Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering Division, University of Salford, M5 4WT, UK

2 Engineering Mechanics Research, Israfil House, Dickenson Rd., Manchester, M13, UK

3 Department of Physics, College of Science, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea

4 Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus), Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with atherosclerosis-driven stenoses significantly altering haemodynamic and influencing potential nanoparticle drug delivery outcomes. This study applies computational fluid dynamics (CFD) via ANSYS FLUENT finite volume software, to two-dimensional stenosed arteries of varying severities (30%, 50%, 70%) and shoulder lengths (2, 4, 6 mm). Two regimes have been compared: a steady Newtonian baseline, where viscosity and velocity remain constant and a physiologically realistic pulsatile non-Newtonian Carreau regime incorporating shear-thinning viscosity and cardiac-cycle effects. In the steady Newtonian simulations, velocity plots showed that increasing stenosis severity amplified throat jet velocities and extended recirculation zones, while shoulder length governed the sharpness and spatial extent of disturbed flow. The pulsatile Carreau model revealed systolic acceleration and diastolic deceleration in velocity contour plots, greater pressure drops with stenosis severity. It also showed wall shear stress (WSS) distributions characterised by high shear at stenotic throats and low or oscillatory shear effects downstream. These disturbed, low-WSS regions were identified as potential nanoparticle deposition sites for pharmacodynamics treatments, aligning with prior findings on plaque-prone haemodynamics. The results demonstrate that stenosis severity amplifies haemodynamic disturbances, while shoulder length shapes their distribution, together influencing the likelihood of nanoparticle residence and deposition. These findings are consistent with published literature, supporting CFD as a predictive tool for assessing hemodynamics. Future research could integrate deformable arterial walls through fluid–structure interaction (FSI), patient-specific geometries, and explicit nanoparticle transport for drug delivery in clinical translation.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Computational Applied Mechanics
Volume 57, Issue 3
July 2026
Pages 443-472
  • Receive Date: 08 April 2026
  • Revise Date: 14 April 2026
  • Accept Date: 16 April 2026