Flow visualization in a mold of an atherosclerotic human abdominal aorta.

Flow in a mold of an atherosclerotic human abdominal aorta and common iliac arteries was studied by flow visualization at a mean Reynolds number of 500 during both pulsatile and steady flow. Flow separation and transient flow reversals were found distal to atherosclerotic plaques during pulsatile flow; whereas flow separation resulting in regions of permanent eddies were observed distal to plaques only during steady flow.