Blood flow in bends: models, methods and simulations

The pulsatile flow in a curved elastic pipe of circular cross section is investigated. The unsteady flow of a viscous fluid and the wall motion equations are written in a toroidal coordinate system, superimposed and linearized over a steady state solution. Being the main application relative to the vascular system, the radius of the pipe is assumed small compared with the radius of curvature. This allows an asymptotic analysis over the curvature parameter. The model results in an extension of the Womersley's model for the straight elastic tube. A numerical solution is found for the first order approximation and computational results are finally presented, demonstrating the role of curvature in the wave propagation and in the development of a secondary flow.