Computational Modeling Approach to Profile Hemodynamical Behavior in a Healthy Aorta

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of mortality among older adults. Early detection is critical as the prognosis for advanced-stage CVD is often poor. Consequently, non-invasive diagnostic tools that can assess hemodynamic function, particularly of the aorta, are essential. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a promising method for simulating cardiovascular dynamics efficiently and cost-effectively, using increasingly accessible computational resources. This study developed a CFD model to assess the aorta geometry using tetrahedral and polyhedral meshes. A healthy aorta was modeled with mesh sizes ranging from 0.2 to 1 mm. Key hemodynamic parameters, including blood pressure waveform, pressure difference, wall shear stress (WSS), and associated wall parameters like relative residence time (RRT), oscillatory shear index (OSI), and endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP) were evaluated. The performance of the CFD simulations, focusing on accuracy and processing time, was assessed to determine clinical viability. The CFD model demonstrated clinically acceptable results, achieving over 95% accuracy while reducing simulation time by up to 54%. The entire simulation process, from image construction to the post-processing of results, was completed in under 120 min. Both mesh types (tetrahedral and polyhedral) provided reliable outputs for hemodynamic analysis. This study provides a novel demonstration of the impact of mesh type in obtaining accurate hemodynamic data, quickly and efficiently, using CFD simulations for non-invasive aortic assessments. The method is particularly beneficial for routine check-ups, offering improved diagnostics for populations with limited healthcare access or higher cardiovascular disease risk.