Modelling pressure losses at arterial junctions with application to junctions of the fetal ductus arteriosus

Abstract

In one-dimensional (1D) models of arterial networks, branch junctions are represented by flow and mechanical energy (or total pressure, i.e. p + 1/2ρu2) coupling conditions. The flow condition simply ensures conservation of mass, but the pressure condition is less trivial because pressure losses are known to occur in the vicinity of junctions, caused by regions of complex flow that depend on the vascular geometry and prevailing flow patterns. These losses are commonly ignored in 1D models under the assumption that area ratios and branching angles of arterial junctions are optimally designed. However, one setting where pressure losses are likely to be important is the junction of the ductus a..