Pulsatile flow dynamics in biomedical engineering: A comprehensive review of methods and applications

Pulsatile flow refers to unsteady pressure-flow wave propagation generated by intermittent cardiac contraction and transmitted through compliant arteries. Pulsatile flow plays a crucial role in both biomedical and engineering systems. This review presents a comprehensive investigation of pulsatile flow dynamics, emphasizing theoretical foundations, computational modeling techniques, and broad interdisciplinary applications. The key parameters of this study are the Womersley number, Reynolds number, and wall shear stress, which govern flow stability and transition behavior. Numerical methods, such as the Finite Difference, Finite Element, Finite Volume, and Lattice Boltzmann, are scientifically discussed, with their respective advantages, limitations, and suitability for different pulsatile flow regimes. Special emphasis is devoted to biomedical applications, where pulsatile blood flow simulations advance understanding of cardiovascular diseases, arterial stenosis, aneurysms, and heart valve dynamics. Moreover, this study examines the relevance of pulsatile flow in microfluidics, aerospace engineering, and industrial systems, where oscillatory flow improves heat transfer, fuel delivery, and device performance. The review further addresses current challenges in experimental validation, computational cost, and physiological modeling, proposing future directions that integrate high-reliability simulations with machine learning and patient-specific data. In summary, this study integrates current advances in numerical modeling of pulsatile flow and its expanding role in improving biomedical devices, aerospace applications, and micro-scale fluid systems.