Abstract
The present thesis motivated by the fact that blood flow in the aorta (before and after the insertion of a catheter) is governed by large finite values of the Womersley number α and for such values of α there is not any analytical solution in the literature. Having this in mind, we seek analytical solutions to the equations of the fluid when the Womersley number varies from small finite to infinite values. The derived single solution predicts that the atherosclerotic plaques may develop in any location around the cross section of the aortic wall unlike to the prescribed locations predicted by the matching solution. In addition, the single solution gives circumferential wall stresses augmented by approximately 100% with respect to the matched asymptotic expansions, a factor that may contribute jointly with other pathological factors to the faster aging of the arterial system and the possible malfunction of the aorta. Finally we estimated the life span of the aorta applying the s-n relation, stress vs number of cycles, to failure, and calculated the average human life expectancy to .
Advisory Committee
Maria Hadjinicolaou (Supervisor), Professor of Applied Mathematics, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University
George T. Karahalios (Member), Emeritus Professor of Fluid Mechanics, Department of Physics, University of Patras
Vassilios C. Loukopoulos (Member), Associate Professor of Fluid Mechanics, Department of Physics, University of Patras