Numerical simulation of fluid-induced vibration and wall shear stress in fusiform cerebral aneurysm: Newtonian and non-newtonian fluid

Vascular techniques have been used for curing the aneurysm, but the reason for the occurrence of aneurysms can not be known using these techniques. These techniques are usually used for preventing a significant situation such as rupture of an aneurysm. In our study, blood flow effects with or without vascular techniques inside an aneurysm were analyzed with computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Important hemodynamic quantities like wall shear stress and pressure in vessel are difficult to measure in-vivo. Blood flow is assumed to be Newtonian fluid. But it actually consists of platelets, so it is also considered a non-Newtonian fluid in this study. Results of the numerical model were used to compare and analyze fluid characteristics with experimental data. Using the flow characteristics (wall shear stress (WSS), wall shear stress gradient (WSSG)), the rupture area was identified to be located in the distal area. However, the rupture area, in vivo studies, was observed to be present at a different location. During pulsatile flow, vibration induced by flow is implicated by weakening of the artery wall and affects more than shear stress. After adapting the fluid-induced vibration, the rupture area in aneurysm is found to be located in the same area as the in-vivo result. Since smaller inflow and low WSS provide the effect of the distal neck, the vibration provides more effects in dome area. In this study it has been found that the effect of shear stress on the rupture of aneurysm is less than the effect of vibration. In the case of non-Newtonian fluid, vibration induced by flow also has more effects than WSS and WSSG. The simulation results gave detailed information about hemodynamics under physiological pulsatile inlet condition.