NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE LAMINAR FLOW OF NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID THROUGH A DISK-TYPE PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE

Abstract

This work presents the numerical simulation of the laminar flow of Non-Newtonian fluid in a planar channel, which includes locking structure, consisting of the support ring and movable valve. Investigated characteristic of fluid flow in valve, fitted with an artificial valve, as well as the flow various emulsions in channels containing locking valves. As the rheological constitutive relation, the model of a Generalized Newtonian Fluid, predicts the effect of anomaly viscosity. The governed equations that describe the flow were integrated by the Finite Volumes Method, using SIMPLE algorithm. The mesh is structured, with rectangular volumes. Several boundary conditions were explored, being the more realistic results obtained by prescribing the inlet velocity field and atmospheric pressure at the exit. Stream function, mean axial velocity profile, normal and wall shear stresses distributions in the flow field surrounding the prosthetic valve are computed for various values of Reynolds numbers (Re=30, 60 and 90).