Title: Hemodynamic analysis of aortic BMHV under different leaflet shapes

Authors: Minzu Zhang; Yan Qiang; Tianci Duan; Liang Qi; Zhixiong Li

Addresses: Energy and Power Engineering College, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pumps, Valves and Fluid Control System of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China ' Energy and Power Engineering College, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pumps, Valves and Fluid Control System of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China ' Energy and Power Engineering College, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pumps, Valves and Fluid Control System of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China ' Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China ' Energy and Power Engineering College, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Pumps, Valves and Fluid Control System of the Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, 730050, China

Abstract: Bileaflet mechanical heart valves (BMHV) are clinically used to replace diseased heart valves. This study models the aortic root structure using medical imaging data and employs numerical simulations to analyse the hemodynamic characteristics of BMHV with different leaflet curvatures under pulsatile flow. Simulation results show that curved leaflets - by increasing the middle jet orifice area - improve the uniformity of three-jet flow distribution. Increasing leaflet curvature makes curved leaflets induce rotational fluid motion on their surface, causing more chaotic downstream vortex distributions but gradually reducing vortex intensity. With higher leaflet curvature, time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) decreases, while oscillatory shear index (OSI) tends to increase in the ascending aorta. Regions with low wall shear stress (WSS) and high OSI usually have higher relative residence time (RRT), and transverse oscillatory shear index (OSItr) also decreases with increasing leaflet curvature. Thus, optimising mechanical valve leaflet design to improve hemodynamic performance can reduce postoperative complications.

Keywords: bileaflet mechanical heart valve; computational fluid dynamics; hemodynamics; dynamic mesh.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2026.151956

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2026 Vol.50 No.2, pp.158 - 180

Received: 22 May 2025
Accepted: 02 Oct 2025
Published online: 27 Feb 2026 *

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