A well‐balanced positivity‐preserving central‐upwind scheme for one‐dimensional blood flow models

Summary In this work, we consider a hyperbolic one‐dimensional (1D) model for blood flow through compliant axisymmetric tilted vessels. The pressure is a function of the cross‐sectional area and other model parameters. Important features of the model are inherited at the discrete level by the numerical scheme. For instance, the existence of steady states may provide important information about the flow properties at low computational cost. Here, we characterize a large class of smooth equilibrium solutions by means of quantities that remain invariant. At the discrete level, the well‐balanced property in the numerical scheme leads to accurate results when steady states are perturbed. On the other hand, the model is equipped with an entropy function and an entropy inequality that can help us choose the physically relevant weak solutions. A large class of semidiscrete entropy‐satisfying numerical schemes is described. In addition, preservation of positivity for the cross‐sectional area is achieved. Numerical results show the scheme is robust, stable, and accurate. The ultimate goal of this article is the numerical application to cases that are more relevant from the medical viewpoint. In particular, a numerical simulation of cardiac cycles with appropriate parameters shows that increasing the rigidity of the artery walls delays the formation of shock waves. Gravity effects are also measured in tilted vessels, and a simulation using an idealized aorta model was conducted. The hyperbolic properties of a model for blood flows are analyzed. Steady states, entropy functions, and entropy inequalities are described. A robust, stable, and accurate central‐upwind scheme is constructed. The model is applied to situations of interest from the medical viewpoint such as simulations using an idealized aorta model.