Flowfields in lateral aneurysm models arising from parent vessels with different curvatures using PTV

 Pulsatile and steady flowfields in a lateral aneurysm model arising from the parent vessel with radius of curvature to vessel diameter ratios of 2.5, 5, and ∞ are presented in terms of particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) measurements and flow visualization. The steady-flow case has a Reynolds number of 600 and the pulsatile-flow one has a Womersley number of 3.9 and Reynolds number of 600. It is found that there exist two opposite vortices and a single vortex in the aneurysms arising from a straight and a curved parent vessel, respectively. The intra-aneurysmal flow velocity, vorticity, and wall shear stresses increase with increasing curvature of the parent vessel. It is suggested from the present results that the lateral aneurysm arising from a straight or small-curvature parent vessel has a tendency to thrombosis whereas the lateral aneurysm arising from a large-curvature parent vessel is more risky. Received: 14 August 1996/Accepted: 17 January 1997