Flow in a porous non-axisymmetric annular conduit: Coupling wall compliance and peristalsis

Abstract

Coenen \textit{et al.}\ (\textit{J. Fluid Mech.}, vol.~921, 2021, p.~R2) developed a reduced-order model of peristaltic pumping in non-axisymmetric annular conduits with rigid walls, in the context of periarterial space (PAS) flows. \textit{In vivo} studies show that the PAS's outer wall undergoes significant displacement due to flow within and that the penetrating PASs form a porous pathway. To account for these biomechanical aspects, we revisit the problem of flow in an eccentric annular conduit and incorporate porous drag and two-way-coupled fluid--structure interaction between the compliant outer wall and the cerebrospinal fluid flow within. A Darcy--Brinkman term in the axial momentum equation accounts for drag due to the porous medium. We account for changes in hydraulic resistance due to peristalsis and compliant-wall displacements perturbatively, thereby reducing the problem to a single nonlinear partial differential equation for the axial pressure. This reduced-order model allows us to build a mechanistic understanding of flow through a porous penetrating PAS and enables parametric studies. For small-amplitude peristaltic waves, analytical solutions are possible.