Finite Element Analysis of Patient-Specific Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract

This study investigated hemodynamics of the ascending aortic aneurysm caused by Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV) malformation, at the systole phase of cardiac cycle. The patient-specific numerical model had coupled computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis simulation to analyze hemodynamics phenomena of ascending aortic aneurysm. Full patient-specific geometry was reconstructed based on Computed tomography (CT) scan images, in order to obtain the Three-Dimensional (3D) finite element mesh. The analysis which was performed using the possibilities of computational fluid dynamics, employed numeric methods and algorithms for the simulation of blood flow by solving the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations on computational meshes. The cardiac cycle was simulated for average blood properties and blood flow rate. The initial results for this single case study- the pressure, velocity field and shear stress distribution were quantified concerning anatomical patient’s structures and showed alterations in dilated aortic area. The diseased BAV produces an obstacle to blood flow and results in a decrease of blood flow in a whole flow regime which could cause huge energy loss during each heartbeat. This might induce high cyclic shear stress distribution and lead to other severe issues of the valve and surrounding aortic structures.