Numerical modelling of shear-dependent mass transfer in large arteries

A numerical scheme for the simulation of blood flow and transport processes in large arteries is presented. Blood flow is described by the unsteady 3D incompressible Navier–Stokes equations for Newtonian fluids; solute transport is modelled by the advection–diffusion equation. The resistance of the arterial wall to transmural transport is described by a shear-dependent wall permeability model. The finite element formulation of the Navier–Stokes equations is based on an operator-splitting method and implicit time discretization. The streamline upwind/Petrov–Galerkin (SUPG) method is applied for stabilization of the advective terms in the transport equation and in the flow equations. A numerical simulation is carried out for pulsatile mass transport in a 3D arterial bend to demonstrate the influence of arterial flow patterns on wall permeability characteristics and transmural mass transfer. The main result is a substantial wall flux reduction at the inner side of the curved region. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.