A methodological approach for the optimisation of modern rotary blood pumps

Abstract

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations have been performed on an innovative prototype of an implantable rotary axial pump. Numerically and experimentally estimated velocity and shear stress fields have been compared on several planes at different distances from the pump axis. An excellent agreement was generally observed in terms of mean flow velocity and viscous stresses, while the congruence of turbulent stresses was very good in some cases and less accurate in others. Further effort will be needed on both the numerical and the experimental side to better characterise near-wall flow features.

3D Fluid-Structure Interaction simulation of a bileaflet heart valve opening-closing cycle and comparison with experimental flow data

“…In order to account for turbulent flow features the Standard k-ε turbulence model was applied, as being recognised to provide good results in turbulent simulation of blood flow in artificial heart devices [7].…”