  In this paper, we present a mathematical and numerical model for blood
solidification and its rupture in stenosed arteries. The interaction between
the blood flow and an existing stenosis in the arterial wall is modeled as a
three dimensional fluid-structure interaction problem. The blood is assumed to
be a non-Newtonian incompressible fluid with a time-dependent viscosity that
obeys a modified Carreau's model and the flow dynamics is described by the
Navier-Stokes equations. Whereas, the arterial wall is considered a
hyperelastic material whose displacement satisfies the quasi-static equilibrium
equations. Numerical simulations are performed using FreeFem++ on a two
dimensional domain. We investigate the behavior of the viscosity of blood, its
speed and the maximum shear stress. From the numerical results, blood
recirculation zones have been identified. Moreover, a zone of the blood of high
viscosity and low speed has been observed directly after the stenosis in the
flow direction. This zone may correspond to a blood accumulation and then
solidification zone that is subjected to shear stress by the blood flow and to
forces exerted by the artery wall deformation. Therefore, this zone is thought
to break and then to release a blood clot that leads to the occlusion of small
arterioles.
