Fluid-Structure Interaction study of carotid blood flow: Comparison between viscosity models

Blood is a complex biological fluid and has elements in its composition, such as erythrocytes, which give it a non-Newtonian behavior. Typically, when carotid blood flow is studied, this aspect is frequently ignored and blood is modeled as a Newtonian fluid, with constant viscosity. This work demonstrates a Fluid-Structure Interaction study of carotid blood flow, with the comparison of two distinct viscosity models (Newtonian and Carreau). The results of the Independent Samples Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistical test show that the velocity in the center of geometry of the is similar for both viscosity models (p = 1.00; p = 0.71; p = 1.00) in the three vessels of the bifurcation Wall Shear Stress is dependent on the blood viscosity (p = 0.027), and is considerably higher for the Carreau model. The displacement of the arterial wall is reliant on the fluid pressure, and it is not influenced by the blood viscosity. (C) 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.