Computational hemodynamics in arteries with the one-dimensional augmented fluid-structure interaction system: viscoelastic parameters estimation and comparison with in-vivo data

Abstract

Mathematical models are widely recognized as a valuable tool for cardiovascular diagnosis and the study of circulatory diseases, especially to obtain data that require otherwise invasive measurements. To correctly simulate body hemodynamics, the viscoelastic properties of vessels walls are a key aspect to be taken into account as they play an essential role in cardiovascular behavior. The present work aims to apply the augmented fluid-structure interaction system of blood flow to real case studies to assess the validity of the model as a valuable resource to improve cardiovascular diagnostics and the treatment of pathologies. Main contributions of the paper include the evaluation of viscoelastic tube laws, estimation of viscoelastic parameters and comparison of models with literature results and in-vivo experiments. The ability of the model to correctly simulate pulse waveforms in single arterial segments is verified using literature benchmark test cases, designed taking into account a simple elastic behavior of the wall in the upper thoracic aorta and in the common carotid artery. Furthermore, in-vivo pressure waveforms, extracted from tonometric measurements performed on four human common carotid arteries and two common femoral arteries, are compared to numerical solutions. It is highlighted that the viscoelastic damping effect of arterial walls is required to avoid an overestimation of pressure peaks. Finally, an effective procedure to estimate the viscoelastic parameters of the model is herein proposed, which returns hysteresis curves of the common carotid arteries dissipating energy fractions in line with values calculated from literature hysteresis loops in the same vessel.

Keywords: Arterial hemodynamics; Blood flow; Fluid-structure interaction; One-dimensional models; Viscoelastic effects.