Numerical Study of the Steady Axisymmetric Flow Through a Disk-Type Prosthetic Heart Valve in a Constant Diameter Chamber

Numerical solutions for the steady axisymmetric flow through a disk-type prosthetic heart valve were obtained for Reynolds numbers from 20 to 1300. Stream function, vorticity, and shear and normal stress plots are presented. Comparison of the length of the separated flow region downstream of the disk with experimental data shows good agreement through Reynolds number 500. The maximum value of the shear stress occurred on the upstream corner of the disk. These detailed results clearly identify regions of very high shear and normal stresses (erythrocyte deformation or damage), regions of very low or very high shear stress at walls (atheromatous lesions), and the extent of separated or reverse flow regions (thrombosis).