Turbulent flows through a disk-type prosthetic heart valve.

A numerical model is developed to predict the complex velocity, shear and pressure fields in steady turbulent flow through a disk-type prosthetic heart valve in a constant diameter chamber. The governing Navier-Stokes equations are reduced to a set of simultaneous algebraic finite-difference equations which are solved by a fast-converging line-iterations technique. A two-parameter, two-equation model is employed to determine the turbulent viscosity. Numerical results are obtained for stream function, vorticity, and shear and normal stresses. The regions of very high shear and normal stresses in the fluid and at the walls are identified. The maximum value of the shear stress occurring near the upstream corner of the disk may cause hemolysis. The technique can be used together with in-vitro physical experiments to evaluate existing or future prosthetic heart valve designs.