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Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

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Original articles

Effects of nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2, Al2O3) on unsteady blood flow

through a curved overlapping stenosed channel
Akbar Zaman a , ∗, Nasir Ali b , Mazhar Sajjad a
a Informatics Complex, H-8, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
b Department of Mathematics and Statistics, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

Received 15 April 2018; received in revised form 28 June 2018; accepted 31 August 2018
Available online 11 September 2018

Abstract

In this letter, we have explored the effects of nanoparticles on unsteady pulsatile blood flow through a curved overlapping
stenosed channel. The governing differential equations are derived for the given physical problem and this contains momentum
and energy equations along with suitable boundary conditions. An explicit finite difference technique has been used to calculate
the numerical results of the given differential equations. The numerical results for different values of curved parameter (Rc ),
nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2 , Al2 O3 ) and Grashof numbers (Gr) are calculated in order to analyze the effects of these parameters
on blood flow pattern. A notable deviation in the results of blood flow pattern has been observed with the comparison of pure
blood with nano-fluids. It is further noted that the curved parameter (Rc ) of a channel has a great influence on velocity profile,
flow rate and impedance/resistance to flow. It is also extracted from the velocity profiles that the shape of the velocity curves
reduces to symmetric pattern for the higher values of the curved parameters (Rc ). Similarly, the magnitude of temperature profiles
is constricted due to the insertion of nanoparticles within blood. Moreover, streamlines are also calculated in order to analyze the
effects of nanoparticles inside the circulating regions of the flow field.
⃝c 2018 International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (IMACS). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights
reserved.

Keywords: Unsteady hemodynamics; Blood; Nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2 , Al2 O3 ); Grashof number; Curved channel

1. Introduction
The study of vascular fluid dynamics reveals that stenosis plays an important role in the development of arterial
diseases. Stenosis reduces the size of lumen radius of an artery which results in obstruction of the blood flow rate
within the lumen of a vessel. This reduction in blood flow rate may cause to reduce the quantity of oxygenated blood
to different parts of human’s body which is known as cardiac ischemia or brain ischemia. Researchers depicted such
effects by the mathematical formulations to identify the effects of minor tapering as well as stenosis on blood flow.
∗ Corresponding author.
E-mail address: akbarzaman75@yahoo.com (A. Zaman).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matcom.2018.08.012
0378-4754/⃝ c 2018 International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (IMACS). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights
reserved.
280 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

Such analysis cannot be made by through experiments only and therefore, various researchers [1,6,25,31,45] studied
the blood flow problems theoretically by using different constitutive equations. Mann et al. [27] initially introduced the
hemodynamics factors that play an important role in the development of the arterial diseases. The theory of Mann was
extended by many researchers in [26,30,34]. Furthermore, disturbance in the flow field near the vicinity of stenosis
was investigated by Liu et al. [24]. This, disturbance, may result in the development of flow separation region in the
post stenotic arterial section. Later, Zaman et al. [44] examined the effects of hemo-dynamical factors on blood flow
through inclined artery. In another study, heat and mass transfer effects on blood flow was also investigated by Zaman
et al. [42]. In this study, the geometry of an artery is considered as an overlapping stenotic cross section and mild
stenotic condition is also incorporated for the evaluation of differential equations. Different study related to the blood
flow problem for the case of non-Newtonian fluid model has been discussed by different researchers [13,28,29]. In
the above mentioned study, it is assumed that the blood is flowing through straight tube/channel. It is further noted
that only steady blood flow problems [32,33] are available in the literature in which curved channel is considered.
Literature survey also revealed that no attempt has been made by researchers to examine the unsteady blood flow
problem through curved channel. Therefore, we propose a novel work in which we examine the unsteady blood flow
problem through curved channel, because most of the arteries/channels within human body are curved.
Nanoparticles have wide range applications in the field of medical and biological engineering. Nano-technology
includes nanoparticles of size 1–100 nm, in which copper and silver nanoparticles are mostly used for the diagnosis
of cancer and its treatment in human beings. It is further retrieved from the literature survey that blood mediated
property of nanoparticles have gained attention of many researchers. Mentioned may be made to the work of Choi
[11], who initially introduced the nanotechnology in transport industries for the enhancement of thermal effects. The
applications of nanoparticles in the medical field are discussed by Harris and Graffagnini [15]. According to them,
Carbon nanotubes are mostly used in surgical instruments such as catheters and stents. Further work related to the
applications of nanoparticles in hematological systems has been discussed by Tan et al. [40]. Thermal effects of
nanoparticles on blood flow have been investigated by Gentile et al. [12]. Similarly, some further study related to the
solicitations of nano-particles within blood flow problems can be found [2,7–10,14,16,17,19–23,36]. Furthermore, the
applications of nano-particles on hydrothermal problems can be seen in Refs. [37–39].
The above applications of nanoparticle in medical engineering motivated us to explore the effects of nanoparticles
(Cu, TiO2 ,Al2 O3 ) diffusion on unsteady blood flow through curved channel. It is also noted that no study yet available
in the literature that consider the unsteady blood with nano-particles are flowing through curved channel. Our proposed
work is based on a novel idea, where the blood flow problem is considered to be unsteady and blood with nano-
particles are flowing through curved channel. This study may be helpful to the medical practitioner in the treatment
of the diseases like cancer and asthma within curved channel/arteries.

2. Geometry of the model

We have considered a two-dimensional curvilinear co-ordinate system for the current blood flow problem. It is also
assumed that the blood is an incompressible fluid and is flowing through curved channel having radius R ∗ (Fig. 1).
The mathematical expressions of the overlapping stenosed channel are given as:
( ( )) ⎫
64 11 3 47 2 1
⎧(
⎪ τ x + e0 1 − η
′
l (x − d) − l0 (x − d) + l0 (x − d) − (x − d)
2 3 4
,⎪
⎪ )
32 0
⎪
10 48 3
⎪
⎪ ⎪
⎪
⎨ ⎬
R (x) = 3
⎪ d ≤ x ≤ d + l0 , ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪( 2 ⎪
⎪
⎪
τ x + e0 , other wise,
′
⎩ ) ⎭

Outer wall, ( ( )) ⎫ (1)

64 11 3 47 2 1
⎧(
τ ′
η (x (x 2
(x 3
(x 4
,
)
⎪ x − e 0 1 − l − d) − l − d) + l 0 − d) − − d) ⎪
32 0 48 0
⎪ ⎪
10 3
⎪
⎪ ⎪
⎪
⎨ ⎬
−R (x) = 3
⎪ d ≤ x ≤ d + l0 , ⎪
⎪
⎪
⎪ 2 ⎪
⎪
⎪
τ x − e0 , other wise,
⎩( ′ ) ⎭

I nner wall.
 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293 281

Fig. 1. Geometry of the overlapping stenosed curved channel.

where e0 the radius of the non-tapered channel, l0 is the length of stenosis, d is the length of non-stenotic region. The
expression for the parameter η is given
4δ ∗
η = 4, (2)
al0
in which δ ∗ denotes the critical height of the stenosis appearing at two specific locations i.e.,
8l0 61l0
x =d+ , and x = d + . (3)
25 50

3. Mathematical formulation
It is assumed that the blood flow problem is unsteady and incompressible. Therefore, the velocity and temperature
fields for the current scenario are defined as:
V = [u (r, x, t) , v (r, x, t) , 0] ,
(4)
T = T (r, x, t) ,
where u and v are the velocity components along the radial and axial direction respectively. In view of (4), the
continuity, momentum and energy equations for curved channel may be written as:
∂ (( ∂w
r + R∗ u + R∗
) )
= 0, (5)
∂r ∂x
( )2 2
∂u ∂u R∗ ∂u u2 ∂p ∂ ( ∗ ∂u R∗ ∂ v
( ) ( ) (
1
ρn f v + µn f
)
+u + − =− r+R +
∂t ∂r r + R ∂x
∗ r+R ∗ ∂r r + R ∂r
∗ ∂r r+R ∗ ∂2x
v 2R ∗ ∂u
)
− − , (6)
(r + R ∗ )2 (r + R ∗ )2 ∂ x
∂v ∂v R∗ ∂v R∗ ∂p ∂ ( ∗ ∂v
( ) ( ) ( ( )
uv 1
ρn f v µ
)
+u + + = − + nf r + R
∂t ∂r r + R∗ ∂ x r + R∗ r + R∗ ∂ x r + R ∗ ∂r ∂r
)
2 2
R∗ ∂ v v 2R ∗ ∂v
( )
+ − + + (ργ )n f g (T − T1 ) , (7)
r+R ∗ ∂ x
2
(r + R ∗ ) 2
(r + R ∗ )2 ∂ x
∂T ∂T ∂T ∂ T 1 ∂T ∂2T
( 2
R∗
( ) )
(ρc P )n f +u + v = k nf + + + θ0 . (8)
∂t ∂r r + R∗ ∂ x ∂r 2 r + R ∗ ∂r ∂x2
282 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

In the above equations θ0 is constant of absorption or heat generation [2]. For the proposed nano-fluid model, ( µ ) n f is
defined as viscosity, kn f as thermal conductivity, ρn f as density, γn f as thermal expansion coefficient and, ρc p n f as
heat capacitance.

4. Normalization of mathematical model

The mathematical equations defined in Eqs. (5)–(8), can be made dimensionless by introducing
r v bu U0 x R R∗ e2 p T − Tw
r̄ = , v̄ = , ū = ∗ , t¯ = t, x̄ = , R̄ = , Rc = , p̄ = 0 , θ = ,
e0 U0 δ U0 e0 b e0 e0 U0 bµ0 T1 − Tw
(9)
cp f µ f
( )
θ0 e02 ρ f gγg e02 ρ f U 0 e0
β= , Pr = , Gr = (T1 − Tw ) , Re = .
k f (T1 − Tw ) kf µ f U0 µf
Here r̄ is dimensionless radial coordinate, w̄ is dimensionless axial velocity, t¯ is dimensionless time, x̄ is
dimensionless axial coordinate, R̄ is dimensionless radius, p̄ is dimensionless pressure, β is the non-dimensional
heat source or sink parameter with respect to fluid, Pr is the Prandtl number, Gr is the local thermal Grashof number,
T w is the wall temperature and Re is the Reynolds number. U0 designates the average velocity of the blood.
Making use of the above variables in Eqs. (5)–(8), after dropping the bars, will now assume the following form:
∂u ∂v
( )
1 u
δ + + Rc = 0, (10)
∂r r + Rc r ∂x
ρn f ∂u ∂u ∂u ∂ p µn f ∂ u 1 ∂u 2∂ u
( ) ( ( 2 ) 2
Rc
Reε 4 δ + δu + v =− + ε2 δ + + δε
ρf ∂t ∂r r + Rc ∂ x ∂r µf ∂ 2r r + Rc ∂r ∂2x
∂v
)
u Rc
−ε 2 δ −ε 2 ∂x
, (11)
(r + R c)
2
(r + R c)

ρn f ∂v ∂v ∂v Rc ∂ p µn f ∂ 2 v 1 ∂v
( ) ( ) (
Rc uv
Re + δu + εw + δε =− + +
ρf ∂t ∂r r + Rc ∂x r + Rc r + Rc ∂z µf ∂ r 2 r + Rc ∂r
)2 )
(ργ )n f
)2
∂ v
2
v ∂u
( (
Rc Rc
+ ε2 2 − + εδ + Gr θ, (12)
r + Rc ∂ x (r + Rc )2 r + R c ∂ x (ργ ) f
(ρc P )n f kk ∂θ ∂θ ∂θ ∂ θ 1 ∂θ 2∂ θ
( ) ( 2 2 )
Rc kf
Pr Re + δεu + εv = + + ε + β, (13)
(ρc P ) f kn f ∂t ∂r r + Rc ∂ x ∂r 2 r + Rc ∂r ∂z 2 kn f
where the equations for thermo-physical parameters are given by [16]:
kn f ks + 2k f − 2φ(k f − ks ) µf
= , µn f = 5
, ρn f = (1 − φ)ρ f + φρs ,
kf ks + 2k f + 2φ(k f − ks ) (1 − φ) 2 (14)
ρc p n f = (1 − φ) ρc p f + φ ρc p s , (ργ )n f = (1 − φ)(ργ ) f + φ(ργ )s .
( ) ( ) ( )

In the above expressions, the physical ( parameters for base fluid are defined as: ρ f is density, µ f is viscosity, γ f
is the thermal expansion coefficient, ρc p f is heat capacitance and k f is thermal conductivity while the physical
)

parameters for solid nanoparticles are defined as: ρs is the density, γs is the thermal expansion coefficient, ρc p s is
( )

heat capacitance and ks is thermal conductivity and φ is the volume fraction.

For the subsequent analysis, we have assumed the mild stenotic conditions: δ ≪ 1 and ε = O(1) i.e. the maximum
height of the stenosis is smaller as compared to the radius of a channel and also the radius of a channel and length of
the stenotic region are also comparable. As a result of these assumptions, Eqs. (11)–(13) readily reduces to
∂p
= 0, (15)
∂r
ρn f ∂v Rc ∂ p ∂ v 1 ∂v v (ργ )n f
( ) ( 2 )
1
Re =− + + − + Gr θ, (16)
ρf ∂t r + Rc ∂ x (1 − φ)
5
2 ∂ r
2 r + Rc ∂r (r + Rc ) 2 (ργ ) f
(ρc P )n f kk ∂θ ∂ θ 1 ∂θ
( 2 )
kf
Pr Re = + + β. (17)
(ρc P ) f kn f ∂t ∂r 2 r + Rc ∂r kn f
 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293 283

The equation for pressure gradient is defined by Burton [5]:

∂p
= A0 + A1 cos 2π ω p t , t > 0.
( )
− (18)
∂x
The systolic and diastolic components of pressures gradient are represented by A0 , the mean pressure gradient, and
A1 , the amplitude of the pulsatile component. Eq. (18) in dimensionless form becomes
∂p
− = B1 (1 + e cos(c1 t)) , (19)
∂x
where
A1 aω p A0 a 2
e= , c1 = , B1 = . (20)
A0 U0 µ0 U 0
Inserting −∂ p/∂z in Eq. (16) (axial component of momentum equation), we obtain
r + Rc ρn f ∂v r + Rc ∂ 2 v 1 ∂v v
( ) ( )
1
Re = B1 (1 + ecos(c1 t)) + + −
Rc ρf ∂t 5
(1 − φ) 2 Rc ∂ 2 r Rc ∂r Rc (r + Rc )
(r + Rc ) (ργ )n f
+ Gr θ. (21)
Rc (ργ ) f
Eqs. (17) and (21) are subjected to following boundary and initial conditions:

v(r, t)|r =R = 0, v(r, t)|r =−R = 0, v(r, 0) = 0.0, (22)

θ (r, t)|r =R = 0, θ(r, t)|r =−R = 0, θ(r, 0) = 0.0. (23)

The appropriate formulae for volumetric flow rate, wall shear stress (WSS) and resistance impedance in the new
variables become
∫ −R
Q= vr dr, (24)
R

∂v
( )
τS = , (25)
∂r r =R
( )
∂p
∂z
Λ= . (26)
Q
The geometry of the arterial segment in non-dimensional form reads as:
[ ( )]
64 11 47 1
R(x) = (1 + τ x) 1 − η1 (x − σ ) − (x − σ ) + (x − σ ) − (x − σ )
2 3 4
,
10 32 48 3
3
σ ≤ x ≤ σ + , Outer wall,
2 [ ( )] (27)
64 11 47 1
−R(x) = (−1 + τ x) 1 − η1 (x − σ ) − (x − σ )2 + (x − σ )3 − (x − σ )4 ,
10 32 48 3
σ ≤ x ≤ σ + 2 , I nner wall,
3

with η1 = 4δ, δ = δa , σ = ld , τ = τ al0 .

∗ ′

0
In Eq. (27),τ = (tan ψ) is termed the tapering parameter and φ is the associated taper angle. The cases
ψ > 0, ψ = 0, ψ < 0, correspond to converging, non-tapered and diverging tapering channel respectively.

5. Solution Methodology
The explicit finite difference scheme is used to solve Eqs. (17) and (21). The detail description of this technique
can be found in [18,43], which is forward in time (FT) and central in space (CS). This technique is abbreviated in the
284 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

book (Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)) of Hoffman [21] as the FTCS, forward in time and central in space. In
this method, vik represents the value of v at node ri, and similarly tk denotes the kth time instant. In this notation, the
finite difference formulations for various partial derivatives are given as:
∂v ∼ vi+1
k
− vi−1
k
= = vr , (28)
∂r 2∆r

∂ 2 v ∼ vi+1
k
− 2vik + vi−1
k
= = vrr , (29)
∂r 2 (∆r )2
and
∂v ∼ vik+1 − vik
= . (30)
∂t ∆t
Using the above formulae for derivatives, Eqs. (17) and (21)are readily reduced into the following form:
{
Rc ∆t ρ f vik
( )
1 r + Rc 1
vi = vi +
k+1 k
B1 1 + ecos(c1 t k ) + v v
( )
rr + r −
r + Rc Re ρn f 5
(1 − φ) 2 Rc Rc Rc (r + Rc )
}
(r + Rc ) (ργ )n f
+ Gr θi ,
k
(31)
Rc (ργ ) f

(ρc P ) f knk ∆t
{( ) }
1 kf
θik+1 = θik + θrr + θr + β . (32)
(ρc P )n f k f Re Pr r + Rc kn f
The prescribed boundary conditions are given by:
vi1 = θi1 = 0, at t = 0,
v1k = θ1k = 0, at r = −R(x), (33)
v kN +1 = θ Nk +1 = 0, at r = R(x).
The numerical solution is obtained for N + 1 uniformly discrete point ri , (i = 1, 2, . . . ..N + 1). The space of grid
size is divided by ∆r = 1/N +1 at the time levels tk = (k − 1) ∆t, where 1t is the small increment in time. The detail
description about the stability and accuracy of this method can be found [18]. Following this study, the accuracy of the
numerical solution is achieved 10−7 . Similarly, the step sizes are chosen as follows: ∆r = 0.025 and ∆t = 0.0001, in
order to satisfy the sufficient condition as given in the Hoffman Book [18].

6. Validation
In order to validate the solution of explicit finite difference technique, the partial differential equations are solved
by another numerical technique such as finite element method. Finite element method is used by many researchers
Bég et al. [3], Rana et al. [35] and Bhargava et al. [4] and therefore, detail explanation of this method can be found
in Zaman et al. [41,43]. The obtained tabular values (shown in Tables 1 and 2) show an excellent correlation between
these two numerical methods and testify the validity of our numerical results.

7. Results and discussion

In the following section, graphical results are sketched by using the following set of parameters [21]: d = 0.25, δ =
0.1, Pr = 14, Re = 2, Gr = 0.8, β = 2, x = 0.52, Rc = 3 and Table 3.
Figs. 2–3 are prepared to demonstrate the dimensionless velocity profiles. Fig. 2a is designed to show the axial
velocity profile for different nano-fluids. This figure reveals that the magnitude of axial velocity decelerated by adding
the nanoparticles into the base fluid. It means that nano-particle increases the effects of viscosity in blood which
ultimately reduces the magnitude of the velocity. Fig. 2b demonstrates that the shape of the velocity profile is shrinking
to symmetric shape gradually by increasing the value of curved parameter. It also suggests that the shape of curved
channel is changed into straight channel. Fig. 3a is designed for different values of β (heat source or sink parameter).
 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293 285

Fig. 2a. Axial velocity for different nano-fluids: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.

Fig. 2b. Axial velocity (Cu nano-fluids) for different values of curved parameter Rc : B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.

Fig. 3. (a)–(b) Variation of axial velocity (Cu nanoparticles) for different values of β and Gr: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.

Fig. 4a. Temperature profiles for different values of φ: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.
286 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

Table 1
Results of axial velocity corresponding to the location of a stenosed curved channel Gr = 2, β = 2, δ = 0.1, x =
0.52, Pr = 14, B1 = 1.41, t = 1.15.
R Axial velocity (v)
Z = 0.52 (Rc = 3) Z = 0.52 (Rc = 3) Z = 0.52 (Rc = ∞) Z = 0.52 (Rc = ∞)
FDM FEM FDM FEM
−0.9000 0 0 0 0
−0.7204 0.3256 0.3255 0.2085 0.2084
−0.5403 0.5581 0.5580 0.3699 0.3698
−0.3602 0.7046 0.7045 0.4843 0.4844
−0.1801 0.7737 0.7736 0.5522 0.5521
0 0.7739 0.7738 0.5741 0.5740
0.1801 0.7127 0.7126 0.5503 0.5502
0.3602 0.5975 0.5974 0.4809 0.4808
0.5403 0.4353 0.4352 0.3659 0.3658
0.7204 0.2335 0.2334 0.2056 0.2055
0.9000 0 0 0 0

Table 2
Results of blood temperature at a location x = 0.52 of stenosed curved channel Gr = 2, β = 2, δ = 0.1, Pr =
14, B1 = 1.41, t = 1.15.
R Temperature (θ) numerical results
Temperature (β = 2) Temperature (β = 3)
FDM FEM FDM FEM
−0.9000 0 0 0 0
−0.7204 0.1359 0.1360 0.2039 0.2040
−0.5403 0.2000 0.2001 0.3000 0.3001
−0.3602 0.2252 0.2253 0.3379 0.3380
−0.1801 0.2292 0.2293 0.3438 0.3439
0 0.2195 0.2196 0.3292 0.3293
0.1801 0.1981 0.1982 0.2971 0.2972
0.3602 0.1650 0.1651 0.2476 0.2477
0.5403 0.1201 0.1202 0.1802 0.1803
0.7204 0.0644 0.0645 0.0966 0.0967
0.9000 0 0 0 0

Table 3
Physical values of the base fluid and nanoparticles [16].
Parameters Base fluid (Blood) Cu Al2 O3 TiO3
c p (J/kg K) 3594 385 765 686.2
ρ (kg/m3 ) 1063 8933 3970 4250
γ × 10−5 (1/K) 0.18 1.67 0.85 0.9
K (W/m K) 0.492 400 40 8.9538

It is noted that the magnitude of velocity increases by increasing the values of heat source/sink parameter β. Similarly,
the effects of thermal Grashof number Gr are shown in Fig. 3b. This figure also suggests that the velocity profile is an
increasing function of a Grashof number Gr.
The various temperature profiles are shown in Figs. 4–5. The effects of different nano-fluids on blood flow are
shown in Fig. 4a and this reveals that the nanoparticles decrease the magnitude of the temperature of the blood.
Therefore, these analysis are useful for medical practitioner in treatment while using nanoparticles. Fig. 4b is designed
for different values of volume fraction φ. The result reveals that the magnitude of temperature distribution decreases
by increasing the volume of nanoparticles in the base fluid.
Fig. 5a is designed for different values of β and this describes that the magnitude of temperature distribution
increases by increasing the value of heat source parameter β. Similarly Fig. 5b is designed for different values of
 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293 287

Fig. 4b. Temperature profiles for different values of concentration for Cu: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.

Fig. 5a. Temperature profiles for different values of β: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, φ = 0.2, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.

Fig. 5b. Temperature profiles for different values of curved Rc : B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52, t = 1.15.

shape parameter and this shows that the shape of the curves of temperature changes to symmetry by increasing the
value of shape parameter Rc .
Furthermore, Figs. 6–7 illustrate the volumetric flow rate of nano-fluids for different important parameters. Fig. 6a
demonstrates the comparison between pure blood (φ = 0) and nano-fluids (φ ̸= 0). It discloses the fact that decrease
in volumetric flow rate is obtained when nanoparticles (TiO2 , Al2 O3 ) are inserted into the base fluid (blood). The
profiles shown in Fig. 6b illustrate the increasing behavior in the flow rate by increasing the values of heat source/sink
parameter β. This behavior of the flow rate demonstrates that it is an increasing function of heat source parameter β.
288 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

Fig. 6a. Flow rate profiles for different nano-fluids: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

Fig. 6b. Flow rate profiles for different values of β: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

Fig. 7. Flow rate profiles for different values of curved Rc : B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

The profiles for different values of Rc shown in Fig. 7 indicate that the magnitude of volumetric flow rate progressively
reduces to steady state subject to increase the value of curvature parameter.
The time series of wall shear stress is shown in Figs. 8–9. Fig. 8 describes a comparison between pure blood curve
(φ = 0) and nano-fluids curves (φ ̸= 0). This comparison reveals that the magnitude of wall shear stress decreases by
 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293 289

Fig. 8. Wall Shear Stress profiles for different nano-fluids: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

Fig. 9a. Wall Shear Stress profiles for different values of curved Rc : B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

Fig. 9b. Wall Shear Stress profiles for different values of β: B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

adding nanoparticles (TiO2 , Al2 O3 ). The results shown in Fig. 9a explain that the pattern of wall shear stress reduces
to steady state behavior by increasing the values of curvature parameter. Similarly, Fig. 9b is designed for different
values of β and it is noted that the magnitude of wall shear stress increases by increasing the source/sink parameter β.
Moreover, Fig. 10 is used to highlight the impact of impedance or resistance to flow. This figure describes the
profiles for different values of curved parameter Rc . It is concluded from this figure that, by increasing the value of
290 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

Fig. 10. Resistance to flow or impedance for different values of curved Rc : B1 = 1.41, δ = 0.1, x = 0.52.

Rc , the pattern of oscillation would start symmetry behavior when the shape of the curved channel changes to straight
channel. These phenomena can be validated in the impedance flow pattern that reduces to symmetry form.
The various blood flow patterns for specified parameters are shown in Fig. 11. The blood flow pattern for pure
blood is shown in Panel (a) which confirms the circulating bolus in the stenotic region. Basically, we have divided
the comparison of these panels into two sections. In the first section, panels (b)–(d) are compared with panel (a)
considering the case of different nano-fluids. From the comparison of panel (c) with panel (a), it is noted that the
size of circulating bolus decreases for Cu nanoparticles. Similarly, the comparison of panels (b) and (d) with panel
(a) reveals that the size of circulating bolus increases for (TiO2 , Al2 O3 ) nanoparticles. In the second section, panels
(e)–(g) are compared with panel (c) which is calculated for the specific values of δ, Rc and β. A significant change
in the size of the trapped bolus of blood is noted by varying the values of each of these parameters β and δ in
panels (e) and (g). Similarly the behavior of streamline in panel (f) reduces to symmetry by increasing the value of
curved channel parameter (Rc → ∞). This reflection of symmetry can be validated by comparing the panel (f) with
panel (c).

8. Concluding remarks

The effects of nanoparticles on blood flow problems are investigated in curved channel. The flow phenomena
are considered as laminar and unsteady. The mathematical model for the proposed problem is used to simulate the
influence of nanoparticles in the stenosed realistic hemodynamics. The coupled partial differential equations are
derived for the curved channel; consequently reduced form of the equations is obtained after incorporating mild
stenotic assumption. In summary, the key findings of the current study are as follows:

• The blood flow velocity in the stenotic region is decelerated by adding nanoparticles (TiO2 , Al2 O3 ) in the base
fluid.
• The blood flow velocity in the stenotic region increases by increasing Grashof number Gr or source\sink
parameter β.
• As expected, symmetric velocity profiles are obtained for the case of straight channel.
• The value of the blood temperature decreases by adding nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2 , Al2 O3 ). However, it shows
an opposite trend by increasing the values for source\sink parameter β.
• The volumetric flow rate in the stenotic region increases by increasing the Grashof number Gr or source\sink
parameter β.
• Significant change is observed in the behavior of the streamline for blood by adding nanoparticles (Cu, TiO2 ,
Al2 O3 ) in the base fluid (blood).
 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293 291

Fig. 11. Streamline of blood flow in channel with the following data: B1 = 1.41, t = 0.45, Re = 0.5.
292 A. Zaman et al. / Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 156 (2019) 279–293

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