Fluid Mechanics in a Large Arterial Bifurcation

Abstract

The manner in which the flow divides at an arterial junction (where a single branch leaves the parent trunk) is experimentally established in terms of the significant dimensionless parameters: the entrance Reynolds number Re , the ratio of the side branch diameter to the main branch diameter β, and the angle of branching θ. The ratio of the flow rate in the side branch to the flow rate in the main branch, γ, is found to increase with the decrease of Re and θ, and with the increase of β. A visualization technique proved the existence of two variable in size and position interdependent separation regions, one in each branch, responsible for the variations in γ. The formation, growth, and shedding of vortices in the separated region of the main branch and the double-helicoidal flow in the side branch have been observed.