Experimental and numerical study of the effect of pulsatile flow on wall displacement oscillation in a flexible lateral aneurysm model

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the effect of pulsatile flow of different frequencies and outflow resistance on wall deformation in a lateral aneurysm. A method for constructing a flexible aneurysm model was developed, and a self-designed piston pump was used to provide the pulsatile flow conditions. A fluid-structure interaction simulation was applied for comparison with and analysis of experimental findings. The maximum wall displacement oscillation increased as the pulsation frequency and outflow resistance increased, especially at the aneurysm dome. There is an obvious circular motion of the vortex center accompanying the periodic inflow fluctuation, and the pressure at the aneurysm dome at peak flow increased as the pulsatile flow frequency and terminal flow resistance increased. These results could explain why abnormal blood flow with high frequency and high outflow resistance is one of the risk factors for aneurysm rupture.