主动脉瓣倾斜角度血流动力学的 PIV 实验研究

瓣叶血栓是主动脉瓣置换术后典型的继发性瓣膜疾病,血流动力学特征异常在其发展过程中至关重要.本文利用粒子图像测速 (particle image velocimetry,PIV) 系统,实验研究了主动脉瓣开口纵向轴线与升主动脉纵向轴线之间倾斜角度 ($\alpha =0^\circ$, $\alpha=5^\circ$,$\alpha =10^\circ$ 和 $\alpha =15^\circ$) 对速度、涡度和黏性剪应力分布等血流动力学特性的影响.研究结果表明:当 $\alpha =0^\circ$ 时,主动脉根部跨瓣血液流动为中心对称流动,而 $\alpha =5^\circ$,$\alpha=10^\circ$ 和 $\alpha =15^\circ$ 时跨瓣血液流动向升主动脉的左冠状动脉一侧倾斜.随着倾斜角度增大,跨瓣血液流动方向倾斜程度增加,血液流动冲击升主动脉壁,损伤内皮细胞导致血栓形成.主动脉瓣倾斜时主动脉窦血液流动速度增大,涡旋也更向主动脉窦底部运动,不利于血液从冠状动脉口流出向心肌供血.同时,主动脉根部的高涡度和高黏性剪应力区域也向升主动脉的左冠状动脉一侧倾斜,主动脉窦的高涡度区域位于主动脉窦底部、高黏性剪应力区域分布于主动脉窦壁面处.主动脉瓣存在倾斜角度时,涡度和黏性剪应力较大,特别是 $\alpha =10^\circ$ 和 $\alpha=15^\circ$,为血栓形成提供了有利环境.研究结果可为临床主动脉瓣置换术参数选择以及继发性瓣膜疾病的避免提供理论依据和技术参考.      

不同心排出量下主动脉瓣血流动力学的PIV实验研究

主动脉瓣发生病变时导致心排出量(cardiac output, CO)减少,而心排出量减少与主动脉瓣血流动力学耦合作用, 引发瓣膜继发性疾病.本文基于医学影像数据三维重构带有冠状动脉的主动脉根部,制备高度光滑和透明的主动脉根部实验模型, 构建体外脉动循环模拟系统,利用粒子图像测速技术(particle image velocimetry,PIV)研究冠状动脉存在时心排出量对主动脉瓣速度分布、黏性剪应力(viscous shear stress, VSS)和雷诺剪应力(Reynolds shear stress, RSS)等血流动力学的影响.研究结果表明: 冠状动脉的存在改变了主动脉窦中的涡旋运动和涡度,冠状动脉存在时流体经由冠状动脉流出, 主动脉窦中的涡旋运动逐渐消失,涡度较早开始减小. 峰值期, 中心对称流动两侧区域存在正、负高黏性剪切区域,存在冠状动脉一侧的升主动脉下游存在高雷诺剪应力区域.心排出量显著影响主动脉瓣的速度分布、VSS和RSS等血液流动和受力状况.随着心排出量增大, 冠状动脉存在时峰值期的最大速度、VSS和RSS增大, 即$CO=2.1$, 2.8, 3.5和4.2 l/min时, 最大速度分别为0.98, 1.13, 1.21和1.37 m/s, 最大VSS分别为0.87, 0.95, 0.96和1.02 N/m$^{2}$, 最大RSS分别为103.76, 116.25, 138.68和146.55 N/m$^{2}$. 心排出量较低时,主动脉瓣较低的跨瓣流动速度和黏性剪应力易导致血栓形成,研究结果可为主动脉瓣置换术提供理论参考.      

不同壁面取向下超疏水平面直轨道上的气泡滑移

利用特定几何分布的超疏水表面实现气泡定向输运在矿物浮选和生物孵化等领域具有广阔的应用前景, 对平面直线超疏水轨道而言, 其壁面取向是相关工程结构的关键参数, 但超疏水壁面取向对倾斜壁面气泡滑移的影响尚不明确. 本文采用高速阴影成像系统研究了不同壁面取向($-90^\circ\leqslant \beta \leqslant 90^\circ$)及轨道倾角($45^\circ\leqslant \alpha \leqslant 75^\circ$)下, 气泡($D_{eq}=2.4$ mm, $Re=500$ $\sim$ 700, $We=7$ $\sim$ 13)在轨道宽度为2 mm的超疏水直线轨道上的运动特性. 气泡在轨道上的滑移近似为匀速, 形状为具有多脊的半子弹型. 根据气液界面波动程度的不同, 滑移气泡可分为波动型和稳定型, 稳定型气泡只在较小倾角且较大方位角时出现($45^\circ\leqslant \alpha < 70^\circ$, $| \beta | \geqslant 45^\circ$). 根据倾角不同, 滑移速度关于$\beta $有2种变化规律: 当$\alpha \leqslant 65^\circ$, 气泡滑移速度近似为关于$\beta =0^\circ$ 的单峰分布($\beta =0^\circ$时, 气泡滑移速度最大); 当$\alpha \geqslant 70^\circ$, 气泡滑移速度在不同的方位角下基本保持稳定. 气泡的最大滑移速度可达0.66 m/s ($\beta =0^\circ$, $\alpha =70^\circ$), 远大于相同尺度的自由上升气泡($\approx0.25$ m/s), 这主要是壁面浸润性分布和惯性力的耦合效应所致. 轨道取向(方位角$\beta )$及轨道倾角($\alpha )$通过改变气泡沿轨道方向的驱动力和气泡迎风面积影响气泡的滑移速度和气液界面稳定性.      

Active control of flow past an elliptic cylinder using an artificial neural network trained by deep reinforcement learning

The active control of flow past an elliptical cylinder using the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) method is conducted. The axis ratio of the elliptical cylinder $\Gamma$ varies from 1.2 to 2.0, and four angles of attack $\alpha=0^\circ, 15^\circ, 30^\circ$, and $45^\circ$ are taken into consideration for a fixed Reynolds number $Re=100$. The mass flow rates of two synthetic jets imposed on different positions of the cylinder $\theta_1$ and $\theta_2$ are trained to control the flow. The optimal jet placement that achieves the highest drag reduction is determined for each case. For a low axis ratio ellipse, i.e., $\Gamma=1.2$, the controlled results at $\alpha=0^\circ$ are similar to those for a circular cylinder with control jets applied at $\theta_1=90^\circ$ and $\theta_2=270^\circ$. It is found that either applying the jets asymmetrically or increasing the angle of attack can achieve a higher drag reduction rate, which, however, is accompanied by increased fluctuation. The control jets elongate the vortex shedding, and reduce the pressure drop. Meanwhile, the flow topology is modified at a high angle of attack. For an ellipse with a relatively higher axis ratio, i.e., $\Gamma\ge1.6$, the drag reduction is achieved for all the angles of attack studied. The larger the angle of attack is, the higher the drag reduction ratio is. The increased fluctuation in the drag coefficient under control is encountered, regardless of the position of the control jets. The control jets modify the flow topology by inducing an external vortex near the wall, causing the drag reduction. The results suggest that the DRL can learn an active control strategy for the present configuration.     

Flow physics of normal and abnormal bioprosthetic aortic valves

Flow physics of transvalvular flows in the aorta with bioprosthetic valves are investigated using computational modelling. For the efficient simulations of flow-structure-interaction in transvalvular flows, a simplified, reduced degree of freedom valve model is employed with a sharp interface immersed boundary based incompressible flow solver. Simulations are performed for normal as well as abnormal valves with reduced leaflet motion that models the effect of early leaflet thrombosis. The structure of the aortic jet and the hemodynamic stresses on the aortic wall are analysed to understand the hemodynamic impacts and possible long-term clinical implications of sub-clinical, reduced leaflet motion. The simulation results have shown that the reduced leaflet motion tilts the direction of aortic jet and generates stronger flow separation and re-attachment on the aortic wall downstream from the reduced motion leaflets. The modified flow pattern increases the wall pressure fluctuation and average wall shear stress on the downstream aortic wall, and results in the asymmetric oscillatory shear index distributions, which may have long-term clinical implications such as aortic wall damage and remodelling.     

粒料固有各向异性的离散元模拟与细观分析

料在摊铺后形成的颗粒定向排列将导致其力学性质的固有各向异性. 依据粒料的实际不规则形状, 构建了可模拟粒间咬合嵌挤作用的三维离散元复杂形状颗粒; 生成了5 种不同沉积方向的各向异性试件和1种各向同性试件, 对比了各试件在三轴压缩试验中的宏观力学特性差异; 引入组构张量以量化各向异性程度, 利用玫瑰图表达接触法向与接触力的分布特征, 探究了粒料各向异性的细观发展规律. 结果表明: 颗粒长轴愈趋向水平排布, 峰值应力比愈大, 剪缩与剪胀程度愈明显; 相较于各向同性试件, 沉积角$\theta$为料在摊铺后形成的颗粒定向排列将导致其力学性质的固有各向异性. 依据粒料的实际不规则形状, 构建了可模拟粒间咬合嵌挤作用的三维离散元复杂形状颗粒; 生成了5 种不同沉积方向的各向异性试件和1种各向同性试件, 对比了各试件在三轴压缩试验中的宏观力学特性差异; 引入组构张量以量化各向异性程度, 利用玫瑰图表达接触法向与接触力的分布特征, 探究了粒料各向异性的细观发展规律. 结果表明: 颗粒长轴愈趋向水平排布, 峰值应力比愈大, 剪缩与剪胀程度愈明显; 相较于各向同性试件, 沉积角$\theta$为$0^\circ$时, 峰值应力比和最大体积压缩应变分别提高了12.6\%和18.8\%, 其原因在于加载过程中颗粒旋转和滑动百分比更小, 内部调整时间更短、更易被剪密; 固有各向异性对颗粒法向接触力分布的影响不大, 但显著影响接触法向分布特征; 剪切过程中, $\theta$为$90^\circ$时的接触法向各向异性系数先快速减小后逐渐增大, 而$\theta$为$0^\circ$到$60^\circ$时则呈现出增大后稍有回落或趋于稳定的趋势, 且$\theta$ 愈小的试件各向异性系数增大愈快.     

高温后高强高性能混凝土双轴压力学性能

利用大型静动真三轴试验机,进行了常温20${^\circ}$C以及200${^\circ}$C$\sim $ 600${^\circ}$C\,6个温度等级高温后高强高性能混凝土在7种应力比双轴压应力状态下的强度与变形试验.测得了双轴主压方向的静态强度、峰值应变与应力应变曲线,剖析了温度和应力比对单、双轴压强度与峰值应变发展趋势的影响规律性以及试件破坏形态. 试验结果表明:随温度的升高,高强高性能混凝土的单轴压减摩强度并不一定降低;双轴压强度相对于单轴压强度的提高倍数取决于应力比、不同温度等级后的高强高性能混凝土``脆硬性'. 提出了带有温度和应力比参数的Kupfer-Gerstle破坏准则公式.      

超音速气流粉碎喷嘴数值模拟

对气流粉碎装置的喷嘴结构和参数进行设计与优化,采用流体动力学软件对所设计喷嘴进行流场模拟,对所喷嘴效果进行检验。分别讨论了锥顶角和内腔造型对超音速喷嘴性能的影响,通过结果比较得出,入口压力3.5MPa、入口直径为6mm的喷嘴为设计的最佳喷嘴。超音速喷嘴锥顶角在8度到12度之间变化时,对喷嘴的性能影响不大,内腔造型为光滑曲面的超音速喷嘴性能最佳。     

Comparative hemodynamics in an aorta with bicuspid and trileaflet valves

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect that has been associated with serious aortopathies, such as aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, infective endocarditis, aortic dissection, calcific aortic valve and dilatation of ascending aorta. There are two main hypotheses to explain the increase prevalence of aortopathies in patients with BAV: the genetic and the hemodynamic. In this study, we seek to investigate the possible role of hemodynamic factors as causes of BAV-associated aortopathy. We employ the curvilinear immersed boundary method coupled with an efficient thin-shell finite-element formulation for tissues to carry out fluid–structure interaction simulations of a healthy trileaflet aortic valve (TAV) and a BAV placed in the same anatomic aorta. The computed results reveal major differences between the TAV and BAV flow patterns. These include: the dynamics of the aortic valve vortex ring formation and break up; the large-scale flow patterns in the ascending aorta; the shear stress magnitude, directions, and dynamics on the heart valve surfaces. The computed results are in qualitative agreement with in vivo magnetic resonance imaging data and suggest that the linkages between BAV aortopathy and hemodynamics deserve further investigation.     

ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT CLINKER UNDER DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES BASED ON HERTZIAN INDENTATION METHOD1)

本文通过高温球压法得到各种脆性和准脆性材料的表面压痕应力与应变之间的关系曲线。通过压痕应力-应变曲线的分析既可比较方便地确定出材料的压痕弹性模量、剪切模量和布氏硬度,又可比较不同温度下水泥熟料的变形性能。在不同温度(25 ${^\circ}\!$C$\sim $1400 ${^\circ}\!$C)处理下,球压应力松弛试验载荷松弛,在载荷峰值为100 N时,随着温度的升高,水泥熟料载荷松弛更明显。随着温度从500 ${^\circ}\!$C升高到1400 ${^\circ}\!$C,载荷松弛非常明显,尤其温度高于1200 ${^\circ}\!$C,水泥熟料样品内部的硅酸三钙(Ca$_3$SiO$_5$, 简称C3S)分解以及有部分液相的出现引起的应力松弛现象最为明显,在1275 ${^\circ}\!$C时熟料基本上已经软化,载荷急速松弛,所以认为1275 ${^\circ}\!$C为熟料的脆延转化温度。通过水泥熟料高温球压松弛试验可以确定水泥熟料在二次加热过程中的脆-延转化温度,测定熟料弹性模量和抗压强度急剧变化的温度范围。研究水泥熟料在不同温度下的力学行为和力学特性,探索提高粉磨效率的新途径,实现高温下的低能耗粉碎。     

求解中短半径弯螺杆钻具的纵横弯曲法

介绍了一种求解中短半径($K=1^\circ$/m$ \sim 3^\circ$/m)弯螺杆 钻具的纵横弯曲法, 以指导弯螺杆钻具的设计和使用. 采用变刚度梁柱理论, 并应用等效载荷法对具有初始结构弯角的梁柱进行等效处理, 根据钻具组合支座连续条件及 边界条件建立了中短半径水平井造斜螺杆钻具组合的力学模型, 进而求得钻头侧向力, 依此 预测弯螺杆钻具的造斜能力. 这种分析方法得到了成功应用.     

锥形涡诱导下建筑物顶面风荷载

通过风洞模拟实验，研究了在锥形涡诱导下建筑物顶面风荷载的特性. 针对一个立方体形模 型，给出了在不同风向角下压力分布的系统结果，进而分析了产生这样结果的原因和流动机 理，以及建筑物顶面的分离流动结构随风向角改变而改变及其演化过程，并指出锥形涡的出 现是建筑物顶面局部出现峰值负压的主要原因. 实验结果还显示，在一定风向角下，由于分 离流动产生的锥形涡结构在屋顶局部可以诱导出时均负压峰值达$-1.0$以上；在风向角 $\beta =30^\circ$时，锥形涡强度达到最大，其诱导的顶面附近局部时均负压峰值可 达$-2.4$, 瞬时风压达$-5.7$以上，是导致建筑物屋顶在强风下损坏的根本原因.     

钝头体中的广义雷诺比拟关系

钝头体壁面的摩阻和热流分布规律不同,平板流动中的雷诺比拟关系在钝头体壁面失效. 文章在前期高超声速广义雷诺比拟理论研究工作的基础上,利用数值仿真的方法对不同外形和来流参数条件下的钝头体广义雷诺比拟关系开展进一步研究. 通过建立钝头体绕流边界层的理论分析模型,得到了钝头体壁面雷诺比拟系数的线性分布预示公式. 采用数值求解 N-S 方程的方法,计算了圆柱和幂次体壁面的摩阻和热流以及二者之间的比拟系数. 通过与前期数值和理论结果对比,以及计算收敛性和网格无关性检验,对数值方法进行了验证. 通过在不同雷诺数 ($Re_\infty = 3.98\times 10^2 \sim 1.59\times 10^6$) 和马赫数 ($M_\infty = 3\sim 12$) 条件下的计算结果对比分析雷诺比拟系数的分布,总结了钝头体中广义雷诺比拟关系受外形和来流条件的影响,评估了广义雷诺比拟理论的适用性. 研究发现,在较高雷诺数条件下,离驻点较远的下游 ($\theta > 60^\circ$) 部位,雷诺比拟系数的分布不同程度地偏离理论预示的线性规律. 相比于圆柱外形,幂次体壁面的雷诺比拟系数分布的线性规律相对较好,其分布斜率略低于圆柱壁面的结果. 研究表明,如果针对实际外形和雷诺数进行适当修正,可以提高广义雷诺比拟关系的预示精度.      

等速上仰翼型动态失速现象研究

翼型大迎角绕流的静态失速将造成升力突降和气动性能急剧恶化，但利用非定常运动所产生 的动态失速效应，可以大大地延缓气流分离和失速现象的发生. 采用Rogers发 展的双时间步Roe格式，求解拟压缩性修正不可压N-S方程. 数值模拟了低雷诺数 ($Re=4.8 \times 10^{4}$)条件下NACA0015翼型作等速上仰($\alpha =0^{\circ} \sim 60^{\circ}$)的动态失速过程，同Walker的试验结果比 较，验证了计算结果的正确性. 研究了该过程中主涡、二次涡和三次涡的发展，升 力系数随攻角变化，以及不同上仰速度对动态失速效应所造成的影响.     

On Formation of a Locally Self-Similar Collapse in the Incompressible Euler Equations

The paper addresses the question of the existence of a locally self-similar blow-up for the incompressible Euler equations. Several exclusion results are proved based on the L ^p -condition for velocity or vorticity and for a range of scaling exponents. In particular, in N dimensions if in self-similar variables ${u \in L^p}$ and ${u \sim \frac{1}{t^{\alpha/(1+\alpha)}}}$ , then the blow-up does not occur, provided ${\alpha > N/2}$ or ${-1 < \alpha \leq N\,/p}$ . This includes the L ³ case natural for the Navier–Stokes equations. For ${\alpha = N\,/2}$ we exclude profiles with asymptotic power bounds of the form ${ |y|^{-N-1+\delta} \lesssim |u(y)| \lesssim |y|^{1-\delta}}$ . Solutions homogeneous near infinity are eliminated, as well, except when homogeneity is scaling invariant.     

GENERAL REYNOLDS ANALOGY RELATION ON BLUNT-NOSED BODIES$^{\bf 1)}$

钝头体壁面的摩阻和热流分布规律不同,平板流动中的雷诺比拟关系在钝头体壁面失效. 文章在前期高超声速广义雷诺比拟理论研究工作的基础上,利用数值仿真的方法对不同外形和来流参数条件下的钝头体广义雷诺比拟关系开展进一步研究. 通过建立钝头体绕流边界层的理论分析模型,得到了钝头体壁面雷诺比拟系数的线性分布预示公式. 采用数值求解 N-S 方程的方法,计算了圆柱和幂次体壁面的摩阻和热流以及二者之间的比拟系数. 通过与前期数值和理论结果对比,以及计算收敛性和网格无关性检验,对数值方法进行了验证. 通过在不同雷诺数 ($Re_\infty = 3.98\times 10^2 \sim 1.59\times 10^6$) 和马赫数 ($M_\infty = 3\sim 12$) 条件下的计算结果对比分析雷诺比拟系数的分布,总结了钝头体中广义雷诺比拟关系受外形和来流条件的影响,评估了广义雷诺比拟理论的适用性. 研究发现,在较高雷诺数条件下,离驻点较远的下游 ($\theta > 60^\circ$) 部位,雷诺比拟系数的分布不同程度地偏离理论预示的线性规律. 相比于圆柱外形,幂次体壁面的雷诺比拟系数分布的线性规律相对较好,其分布斜率略低于圆柱壁面的结果. 研究表明,如果针对实际外形和雷诺数进行适当修正,可以提高广义雷诺比拟关系的预示精度.     

Degenerate solutions of electron-beam equations

In this paper, exact solutions are constructed for stationary election beams that are degenerate in the Cartesian (x,y,z), axisymmetric (r,θ,z), and spiral (in the planes y=const (u,y,v)) coordinate systems. The degeneracy is determined by the fact that at least two coordinates in such a solution are cyclic or are integrals of motion. Mainly, rotational beams are considered. Invariant solutions for beams in which the presence of vorticity resulted in a linear dependence of the electric-field potential ? on the above coordinates were considered in [1], In degenerate solutions, the presence of vorticity results in a quadratic or more complex dependence of the potential on the coordinates that are integrals of motion. In [2] and in a number of papers referred to in [2], the degenerate states of irrotational beams are described. The known degenerate solutions for rotational beams apply to an axisymmetric one-dimensional (r) beam with an azimuthal velocity component [3] and to relativistic conical flow [1]. The equations used below follow from the system of electron hydrodynamic equations for a stationary relativistic beam $$\begin{array}{*{20}c} {\sum\limits_{\beta = 1}^3 {\frac{\partial }{{\partial q^\beta }}\left[ {\sqrt \gamma g^{\beta \beta } g^{\alpha \alpha } \left( {\frac{{\partial A_\alpha }}{{\partial q^\beta }} - \frac{{\partial A_\beta }}{{\partial q^\alpha }}} \right)} \right]} = 4\pi \rho \sqrt \gamma g^{\alpha \alpha } u_\alpha ,} \\ {\sum\limits_{\beta = 1}^3 {\frac{\partial }{{\partial q^\beta }}\left( {\sqrt \gamma g^{\beta \beta } \frac{{\partial \varphi }}{{\partial q^\beta }}} \right)} = 4\pi \rho \sqrt {\gamma u} ,\sum\limits_{\beta = 1}^3 {g^{\beta \beta } u_\beta ^2 + 1 = u^2 } } \\ \begin{gathered} \frac{\eta }{c}u\frac{{\partial \mathcal{E}}}{{\partial q^\alpha }} = \sum\limits_{\beta = 1}^3 {g^{\beta \beta } u_\beta } \left( {\frac{{\partial p_\beta }}{{\partial q^\alpha }} - \frac{{\partial p_\alpha }}{{\partial q^\beta }}} \right), \hfill \\ \begin{array}{*{20}c} {\sum\limits_{\beta = 1}^3 {\frac{\partial }{{\partial q^\beta }}(\sqrt \gamma g^{\beta \beta } \rho u_\beta ) = 0,u \equiv \frac{\eta }{{c^2 }}(\varphi + \mathcal{E}) + 1,} } \\ {cu_\alpha \equiv \frac{\eta }{c}A_\alpha + p_\alpha ,\alpha ,\beta = 1,2,3,\gamma \equiv g_{11} g_{22} g_{33} } \\ \end{array} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \\ \end{array} $$ where q^β denotes orthogonal coordinates with the metric tensor g^ββ (β=1,2,3); A_α is the magnetic potential; A_α = (u_α/u)c is the electron velocity; ρ is the scalar space-charge density (ρ > 0); is the energy in eV; p_α is the generalized momentum of an electron per unit mass; η is the electron charge-mass ratio.     

窦在双叶人工机械瓣启闭过程中所起的作用

本文采用任意拉格朗日－－欧拉（ＡＬＥ）有限单无法，将血液视为不可压缩粘性流体，同时将人工机械瓣瓣叶简化为定轴转动刚体。建立了双叶人工机械瓣－－血液耦合运动的二维计算模型。在此基础上，对比研究了Ｓｔ．Ｊｕｄｅ瓣（ＳＪＭ）、有窦顺向人工机械瓣（ＤＤＭ）及无窦ＤＤＭ瓣的启闭过程，以提示窦的作用，本文研究表明：在有窦及无窦的情况下，瓣叶开启规律基本一致。窦对跨瓣压差及剪应力幅值影响也不大，但对瓣叶的关闭却     

Numerical simulation of the non-Newtonian blood flow through a mechanical aortic valve

This work focuses on the comparison between Newtonian and non-Newtonian blood flows through a bileaflet mechanical heart valve in the aortic root. The blood, in fact, is a concentrated suspension of cells, mainly red blood cells, in a Newtonian matrix, the plasma, and consequently its overall behavior is that of a non-Newtonian fluid owing to the action of the cells’ membrane on the fluid part. The common practice, however, assumes the blood in large vessels as a Newtonian fluid since the shear rate is generally high and the effective viscosity becomes independent of the former. In this paper, we show that this is not always the case even in the aorta, the largest artery of the systemic circulation, owing to the pulsatile and transitional nature of the flow. Unexpectedly, for most of the pulsating cycle and in a large part of the fluid volume, the shear rate is smaller than the threshold level for the blood to display a constant effective viscosity and its shear thinning character might affect the system dynamics. A direct inspection of the various flow features has shown that the valve dynamics, the transvalvular pressure drop and the large-scale features of the flow are very similar for the Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid models. On the other hand, the mechanical damage of the red blood cells (hemolysis), induced by the altered stress values in the flow, is larger for the non-Newtonian fluid model than for the Newtonian one.