Cardiovascular health researchers explore how fat deposition affects aortic flow. Fatty deposits in artery walls can cause atherosclerosis, narrowing and stiffening the arteries. This can significantly affect aortic blood flow. CFD models may show recirculation or stagnation, increased wall shear stress in constricted zones, and higher flow velocities due to lower cross-sectional area. Regarding its importance, the current CFD study is conducted based on numerous reference papers to explore the effect of fat deposition in the Aorta.

Figure 1: Atherosclerosis – Fat deposition in veins

Simulation Process

The geometry model is created from MRI images, shown in Fig. 2. The images are discretized into 638974 cells using ANSYS Meshing, maintaining quality. The viscous blood passing through the veins keeping laminar regime. The main objective of current study is exploring the effect of fat deposition on aorta flow.

Figure 2: Geometry model of Aorta a) without fat deposition b) with fat deposition

Post-processing

The simulation’s findings show how significantly fat buildup affects aortic blood flow. The model of the constricted aorta displays a more prominent pressure gradient across the affected region, significantly greater blood flow velocities through the narrowing, and increased wall shear stress in the constricted area. These alterations suggest a greater blood flow resistance, which may raise the heart’s burden and the risk of other cardiovascular problems. It is evident from the comparison of the narrowed and normal models how arterial constriction affects hemodynamics, highlighting the significance of preserving healthy blood vessels for the best possible circulatory function.