Pulsatile Flow Into a 45-Degree Tube Bifurcation

Abstract In this study, we use numerical simulation to investigate the pulsatile flow into a 45°-tube bifurcation. There is a well-known analytical solution for the pulsatile flow in a straight pipe. However, to study the pulsatile flow into a branched pipe only numerical solution or experimental techniques are available. The unsteady, three-dimensional, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a finite volume solver. A time periodic flow is established. As compared to the straight tube flow case, it is found that the introduction of bifurcation changes the periodic flow structure upstream and downstream of the bifurcation. The periodic flow in the forward flow and the reverse flow part of the cycle are very different. The forward flow part of the cycle is a problem of splitting the mother tube flow into the two daughter tubes. The reverse flow part of the cycle is the problem of two jets coming out of the daughter tubes mixing in the mother tube chamber.