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Abstract. In this paper a one-dimensional model of a vascular network based on space-time variables is investigated. Although the one-dimensional system has been more widely studied using a space-frequency decomposition, the space-time formulation offers a more direct physical interpretation of the dynamics of the system. The objective of the paper is to highlight how the space-time representation of the linear and nonlinear one-dimensional system can be theoretically and numerically modelled.In deriving the governing equations from first principles, the assumptions involved in constructing the system in terms of area-mass flux (A, Q), area-velocity (A, u), pressure-velocity (p, u) and pressure-mass flux(p, Q) variables are discussed. For the nonlinear hyperbolic system expressed in terms of the (A, u) variables the extension of the single vessel model to a network of vessels is achieved using a characteristic decomposition combined with conservation of mass and total pressure. The more widely studied linearised system is also discussed where conservation of static pressure, instead of total pressure, is enforced in the extension to a network. Consideration of the linearised system also allows for the derivation of a reflection coefficient analogous to the approach adopted in acoustics and surface waves.The derivation of the fundamental equations in conservative and characteristic variables provides the basic information for many numerical approaches. In the current work the linear and nonlinear systems have been solved using a spectral/hp element spatial discretisation with a discontinuous Galerkin formulation and a second order Adams-Bashforth time integration scheme. The numerical scheme is then applied to a model arterial network of the human vascular system previously studied by Wang and Parker (To appear in J. Biomech. (2004)).Using this numerical model the role of nonlinearity is also considered by comparison of the linearised and nonlinearised results. Similar to previous work only secondary contributions are observed from the nonlinear effects under physiological conditions in the systemic system. Finally, the effect of the reflection coefficient on reversal of the flow waveform in the parent vessel of a bifurcation is considered for a system with a low terminal resistance as observed in vessels such as the umbilical arteries.

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In this paper we numerically investigate a one‐dimensional model of blood flow in human arteries using both a discontinuous Galerkin and a Taylor–Galerkin formulation. The derivation of the model and the numerical schemes are detailed and applied to two model numerical experiments. We first study the effect of an intervention, such the implantation of a vascular prosthesis (e.g. a stent), which leads to an abrupt variation of the mechanical characteristics of an artery. We then discuss the simulation of the propagation of pressure and velocity waveforms in the human arterial tree using a simplified model consisting of the 55 main arteries. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The accuracy of the nonlinear one-dimensional (1-D) equations of pressure and flow wave propagation in Voigt-type visco-elastic arteries was tested against measurements in a well-defined experimental 1:1 replica of the 37 largest conduit arteries in the human systemic circulation. The parameters required by the numerical algorithm were directly measured in the in vitro setup and no data fitting was involved. The inclusion of wall visco-elasticity in the numerical model reduced the underdamped high-frequency oscillations obtained using a purely elastic tube law, especially in peripheral vessels, which was previously reported in this paper [Matthys et al., 2007. Pulse wave propagation in a model human arterial network: Assessment of 1-D numerical simulations against in vitro measurements. J. Biomech. 40, 3476–3486]. In comparison to the purely elastic model, visco-elasticity significantly reduced the average relative root-mean-square errors between numerical and experimental waveforms over the 70 locations measured in the in vitro model: from 3.0% to 2.5% false(p<0.012false) for pressure and from 15.7% to 10.8% false(p<0.002false) for the flow rate. In the frequency domain, average relative errors between numerical and experimental amplitudes from the 5th to the 20th harmonic decreased from 0.7% to 0.5% false(p<0.107false) for pressure and from 7.0% to 3.3% false(p<10−6false) for the flow rate. These results provide additional support for the use of 1-D reduced modelling to accurately simulate clinically relevant problems at a reasonable computational cost.