TITLE:
CFD Analysis of Pressure and Velocity Profiles in Stenosed Carotid Arteries at Varying Degrees of Occlusion
AUTHORS:
Lawrence Onyami, Rebecca Muhumuza Nalule, Fulgensia Kamugisha Mbabazi, Asaph Keikara Muhumuza
KEYWORDS:
Computational Fluid Dynamics, Carotid Artery Stenosis, Hemodynamics, Pressure Distribution, Velocity Profile
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Fluid Dynamics,
Vol.15 No.4,
November
17,
2025
ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death globally, with carotid artery stenosis is a major contributor to the global burden of a significant role in ischemic stroke incidence. This study employed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyse pressure, velocity, and wall shear stress (WSS) profiles in carotid stress arteries under three stenosis severities 50%, 70% and 90%. Using COMSOL Multiphysics and the Finite Element method (FEM), simulations were conducted on a two-dimensional artery model, incorating buoyancy forces and energy equations to better reflect hemodynamic behavior. The results demonstrated that as stenosis severity increases, there is a nonlinear rise in peak velocity and pressure drop, accompanied by elevated and more localised WSS at the throat of stenosis. At 90%, stenosis, critical hemodynamic conditions were observed, including excessive WSS (>30 Pa), steep pressure gradients, and downstream flow disturbances. These factors are known contributors to endothelial injury, plaque rupture, and thrombus formation. Additionally, recirculation zones with near zero WSS downstream posed risks for stagnation and atherogenesis. This study highlights CFD as a powerful, non-invasive tool for assessing stroke risk and guiding clinical decision-making. The findings highlight the need for early diagnosis and hemodynamic profiling in managing carotid artery disease, especially in resource limited settings where advanced imaging may be inaccessible.