Analysis of pulsatile blood flow: a carotid siphon model.

Numerical results for axial and secondary flow velocity and pressure in a three-dimensional model of the human carotid siphon have been calculated; the investigations were carried out under physiologically relevant pulsatile flow conditions. Time-dependent, three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations were solved numerically by using a special finite element method. The results of the computer simulation presented here concentrate on the secondary motion effect during the pulsatile flow cycle in multiple three-dimensional curvatures.