Assessment of fluid wall shear stress and vessel wall stress in an 'ideal' atherosclerotic plaque model

摘要

Plaque rupture is believed to be related to mechanical forces, various cell activities, chemical environment, and vessel surface conditions. The mechanism causing plaque rupture is not fully understood (Tang et al. 2004). To better understand the development of an atherosclerotic plaque an ideal straight tube blood vessel will be studied with a fluid-structure interaction numerical model. In a later phase a three-dimensional (3D) CT-based computational model with plaque structures will help to identify critical flow and stress/strain conditions which may be related to plaque rupture. The numerical model will be used to study abdominal aneurysms. Surgical intervention to treat abdominal aortic aneurysm is appropriate when cumulative risk for aneurysm rupture exceeds risk for repair, within the context of overall life expectancy (Fillinger and Marra 2003). The model can help the estimation of rupture risk.