Comparative study of flow in right-sided and left-sided aortas: numerical simulations in patient-based models

A right-sided aorta is a rare malformation which may be associated with other various types of congenital heart disease. We utilised haemodynamic, echocardiographic measurements, computerised tomography and image reconstruction software packages that were integrated in a computational fluid dynamics model to determine blood flow patterns in patient-based aortas. In the left-sided aorta, a systolic clockwise rotational component was present, while helical flow was depicted in the aortic arch that was converted in the descending aorta as counter-rotating vortices with accompanying retrograde flow. The right-sided configuration has not altered the orientation of the three-dimensional vortex, but intensification of polymorphic flow patterns, alterations in wall shear stress distribution and development of a lateral pressure gradient at the area of an aneurysmal anomaly was observed. Moreover, increments of Reynolds, Womersley and Dean numbers were evident. These phenomena along with the formation of the aneurysm might influence cardiovascular risk in patients with right-sided aortas.     

A numerical analysis of the aortic blood flow pattern during pulsed cardiopulmonary bypass

In the modern era, stroke remains a main cause of morbidity after cardiac surgery despite continuing improvements in the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) techniques. The aim of the current work was to numerically investigate the blood flow in aorta and epiaortic vessels during standard and pulsed CPB, obtained with the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). A multi-scale model, realized coupling a 3D computational fluid dynamics study with a 0D model, was developed and validated with in vivo data. The presence of IABP improved the flow pattern directed towards the epiaortic vessels with a mean flow increase of 6.3% and reduced flow vorticity.     

Proposition of an outflow boundary approach for carotid artery stenosis CFD simulation

The purpose of this study was to propose an innovative approach of setting outlet boundary conditions for the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of human common carotid arteries (CCAs) bifurcation based on the concept of energy loss minimisation at flow bifurcation. Comparisons between this new approach and previously reported boundary conditions were also made. The results showed that CFD simulation based on the proposed boundary conditions gave an accurate prediction of the critical stenosis ratio of carotid arteries (at around 65%). Other boundary conditions, such as the constant external pressure (P = 0) and constant outflow ratio, either overestimated or underestimated the critical stenosis ratio of carotid arteries. The patient-specific simulation results furthermore indicated that the calculated internal carotid artery flow ratio at CCA bifurcation (61%) coincided with the result obtained by clinical measurements through the use of Colour Doppler ultrasound.     

Validation of numerical flow simulations against in vitro phantom measurements in different type B aortic dissection scenarios

An aortic dissection (AD) is a serious condition defined by the splitting of the arterial wall, thus generating a secondary lumen [the false lumen (FL)]. Its management, treatment and follow-up are clinical challenges due to the progressive aortic dilatation and potentially severe complications during follow-up. It is well known that the direction and rate of dilatation of the artery wall depend on haemodynamic parameters such as the local velocity profiles, intra-luminal pressures and resultant wall stresses. These factors act on the FL and true lumen, triggering remodelling and clinical worsening. In this study, we aimed to validate a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tool for the haemodynamic characterisation of chronic (type B) ADs. We validated the numerical results, for several dissection geometries, with experimental data obtained from a previous in vitro study performed on idealised dissected physical models. We found a good correlation between CFD simulations and experimental measurements as long as the tear size was large enough so that the effect of the wall compliance was negligible.     

A mathematical model for the peristaltic flow of chyme movement in small intestine

A mathematical model based on viscoelastic fluid (fractional Oldroyd-B model) flow is considered for the peristaltic flow of chyme in small intestine, which is assumed to be in the form of an inclined cylindrical tube. The peristaltic flow of chyme is modeled more realistically by assuming that the peristaltic rush wave is a sinusoidal wave, which propagates along the tube. The governing equations are simplified by making the assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynolds number. Analytical approximate solutions of problem are obtained by using homotopy analysis method and convergence of the obtained series solution is properly checked. For the realistic values of the emerging parameters such as fractional parameters, relaxation time, retardation time, Reynolds number, Froude number and inclination of tube, the numerical results for the pressure difference and the frictional force across one wavelength are computed and discussed the roles played by these parameters during the peristaltic flow. On the basis of this study, it is found that the first fractional parameter, relaxation time and Froude number resist the movement of chyme, while, the second fractional parameter, retardation time, Reynolds number and inclination of tube favour the movement of chyme through the small intestine during pumping. It is further revealed that size of trapped bolus reduces with increasing the amplitude ratio whereas it is unaltered with other parameters.     

Simulation of Fluid Flow in a Channel Induced by Three Types of Fin-Like Motion

One of many interesting research activities in biofluidmechanics is dedicated to investigations of locomotion in water. Some of propulsion mechanisms observed in the underwater world are used in the development process of underwater autonomic vehicles （AUV）. In order to characterise several solutions according to their manoeuvrability, influence on the surrounding fluid and energetic efficiency, a detailed analysis of fin-like movement is indispensable. In the current paper an analysis of undulatory, oscillatory and combined fin-like movements by means of numerical simulation is carried out. The conservation equation of mass and the conservation equation of momentum axe solved with the Finite Volume Method （FWM） by use of the software CFX-10.0. The undulatory and oscillatory fin movements axe modelled with an equation that is implemented within an additional subroutine and joined with the main solver. N carried out in the computational domain, in which one fin is fixed in a flow-through water duct. Simulations axe carded out in the range of the Re number up to 105. The results show significant influence of applied fin motion on the velocity distribution in the surrounding fluid.     

Reynolds number limits for jet propulsion: a numerical study of simplified jellyfish

The Scallop theorem states that reciprocal methods of locomotion, such as jet propulsion or paddling, will not work in Stokes flow (Reynolds number=0). In nature the effective limit of jet propulsion is still in the range where inertial forces are significant. It appears that almost all animals that use jet propulsion swim at Reynolds numbers (Re) of about 5 or more. Juvenile squid and octopods hatch from the egg already swimming in this inertial regime. Juvenile jellyfish, or ephyrae, break off from polyps swimming at Re greater than 5. Many other organisms, such as scallops, rarely swim at Re less than 100. The limitations of jet propulsion at intermediate Re is explored here using the immersed boundary method to solve the 2D Navier-Stokes equations coupled to the motion of a simplified jellyfish. The contraction and expansion kinematics are prescribed, but the forward and backward swimming motions of the idealized jellyfish are emergent properties determined by the resulting fluid dynamics. Simulations are performed for both an oblate bell shape using a paddling mode of swimming and a prolate bell shape using jet propulsion. Average forward velocities and work put into the system are calculated for Re between 1 and 320. The results show that forward velocities rapidly decay with decreasing Re for all bell shapes when Re<10. Similarly, the work required to generate the pulsing motion increases significantly for Re<10. When compared to actual organisms, the swimming velocities and vortex separation patterns for the model prolate agree with those observed in Nemopsis bachei. The forward swimming velocities of the model oblate jellyfish after two pulse cycles are comparable to those reported for Aurelia aurita, but discrepancies are observed in the vortex dynamics between when the 2D model oblate jellyfish and the organism. This discrepancy is likely due to a combination of the differences between the 3D reality of the jellyfish and the 2D simplification, as well as the rigidity of the time varying geometry imposed by the idealized model.     

A two-dimensional numerical study of spatial pattern formation in interacting Turing systems

For many years Turing systems have been proposed to account for spatial and spatiotemporal pattern formation in chemistry and biology. We extend the study of Turing systems to investigate the rôle of boundary conditions, domain shape, non-linearities, and coupling of such systems. We show that such modifications lead to a wide variety of patterns that bear a striking resemblance to pigmentation patterns in fish, particularly those involving stripes, spots and transitions between them. Using the Turing system as a metaphor for activator—inhibitor models we conclude that such a mechanism, with the aforementioned modifications, may play a rôle in fish patterning.     

Optimization and scale‐up of oligonucleotide synthesis in packed bed reactors using computational fluid dynamics modeling

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for the analysis of oligonucleotide synthesis in packed bed reactors was developed and used to optimize the scale up of the process. The model includes reaction kinetics data obtained under well defined conditions comparable to the situation in the packed bed. The model was validated in terms of flow conditions and reaction kinetics by comparison with experimental data. Experimental validation and the following model parameter studies by simulation were performed on the basis of a column with 0.3 g oligonucleotide capacity. The scale‐up studies based on CFD modelling were calculated on a 440 g scale (oligonucleotide capacity). © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 30:1048–1056, 2014     

A Patient-Specific Computational Fluid Dynamic Model of Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Before and One Year After Surgery

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been widely used for studying intracranial aneurysm hemodynamics, while its use for guiding clinical strategy is still in development. In this study, CFD simulations helped informtreatment decision for a middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm case was investigated. A patient with a 10.4 × 9.8 mm aneurysm attached with a small aneurysmat the edge of the trifurcation in the left MCA was included in this study. Forremoving the MCA aneurysm, two scenarios were considered: Plan-A involvedclipping the small aneurysm and Plan-B involved clipping the whole aneurysm.A suitable treatment plan was decided by comparing the clinical measurementsand CFD analysis between these two plans. One-year after the surgery, theCFD analysis was conducted again on the post-operative aneurysm model to verify the selected surgical plan in terms of morphometric and hemodynamic properties changes in the aneurysm. Based on the CFD simulation and clinicalexperience, surgical Plan-A was adopted. One-year after the surgery, both thehemodynamic and morphological properties improved in the post-operativeaneurysm model, indicating the recovery of the patient. The patient-specificaneurysm CFD analysis can help to determine a better surgical plan for patientswith special cerebral aneurysms. This study showed how CFD analysis can beused to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment.     

Non-Newtonian Blood Flow in Left Coronary Arteries with Varying Stenosis: A Comparative Study

This paper presents Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis of blood flow in three different 3-D models of left coronary artery (LCA). A comparative study of flow parameters (pressure distribution, velocity distribution and wall shear stress) in each of the models is done for a non-Newtonian (Carreau) as well as the Newtonian nature of blood viscosity over a complete cardiac cycle. The difference between these two types of behavior of blood is studied for both transient and steady states of flow. Additionally, flow parameters are compared for steady and transient boundary conditions considering blood as non-Newtonian fluid. The study shows that the highest wall shear stress (WSS), velocity and pressure are found in artery having stenosis in all the three branches of LCA. The use of Newtonian blood model is a good approximation for steady as well as transient blood flow boundary conditions if shear rate is above 100 s-1. However, the assumption of steady blood flow results in underestimating the values of flow parameters such as wall shear stress, pressure and velocity.     

Modeling evaluation of the fluid-dynamic microenvironment in tissue-engineered constructs: a micro-CT based model

Natural cartilage remodels both in vivo and in vitro in response to mechanical stresses, hence mechanical stimulation is believed to be a potential tool to modulate extra-cellular matrix synthesis in tissue-engineered cartilage. Fluid-induced shear is known to enhance chondrogenesis in engineered cartilage constructs. The quantification of the hydrodynamic environment is a condition required to study the biochemical response to shear of 3D engineered cell systems. We developed a computational model of culture medium flow through the microstructure of a porous scaffold, during direct- perfused culture. The 3D solid model of the scaffold micro-geometry was reconstructed from 250 micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) images. The results of the fluid dynamic simulations were analyzed at the central portions of the fluid domain, to avoid boundary effects. The average, median and mode shear stress values calculated at the scaffold walls were 3.48, 2.90, and 2.45 mPa respectively, at a flow rate of 0.5 cm(3)/min, perfused through a 15 mm diameter scaffold, at an inlet fluid velocity of 53 microm/s. These results were compared to results estimated using a simplified micro-scale model and to results estimated using an analytical macro-scale porous model. The predictions given by the CT-based model are being used in conjunction with an experimental bioreactor model, in order to quantify the effects of fluid-dynamic shear on the growth modulation of tissue-engineered cartilage constructs, to potentially enhance tissue growth in vitro.     

Comparative analysis of realistic CT-scan and simplified human airway models in airflow simulation

Efforts to model the human upper respiratory system have undergone many phases. Geometrical proximity to the realistic shape has been the subject of many research projects. In this study, three different geometries of the trachea and main bronchus were modelled, which were reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) scan images. The geometrical variations were named realistic, simplified and oversimplified. Realistic refers to the lifelike image taken from digital imaging and communications in medicine format CT scan images, simplified refers to the reconstructed image based on natural images without realistic details pertaining to the rough surfaces, and oversimplified describes the straight wall geometry of the airway. The characteristics of steady state flows with different flow rates were investigated, simulating three varied physical activities and passing through each model. The results agree with previous studies where simplified models are sufficient for providing comparable results for airflow in human airways. This work further suggests that, under most exercise conditions, the idealised oversimplified model is not favourable for simulating either airflow regimes or airflow with particle depositions. However, in terms of immediate analysis for the prediction of abnormalities of various dimensions of human airways, the oversimplified techniques may be used.     

Integration of mixing, heat transfer, and biochemical reaction kinetics in anaerobic methane fermentation

An extensive investigation of anaerobic methane fermentation requires identifying the relationship between the physical environment and biological process. In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique was used to characterize bacterial fermentation mechanisms intertwined with mixing and heat transfer in anaerobic digesters. The results demonstrate that the methane yield remains almost unchanged while the energy efficiency decreases with increasing mixing power in a complete‐mix digester, and that the energy output increases nonlinearly with the increase in heating energy in a plug‐flow digester. The CFD method can be applied to other bioreactors to gain valuable insights into their behavior as well. Integrating flow and temperature with kinetic behavior for anaerobic digestion not only solves the controversy about how mixing influences the digestive process, but also assists in optimizing the digester design and increasing the efficiency of energy conversion, and additionally, provides a reference for improving the mixing guidelines recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109: 2864–2874. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hydrodynamic and kinetic study of cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei with pellet morphology

Numerical simulations and experimental validation were performed to understand the effects of hydrodynamics on pellet formation and cellulase production by filamentous T. reesei. The constructed model combined a steady-state multiple reference frame (MRF) approach describing mechanical mixing, oxygen mass transfer, and non-Newtonian flow field with a transient sliding mesh approach and kinetics of oxygen consumption, pellet formation, and enzyme production. The model was experimentally validated at various agitation speeds in a two-impeller Rushton turbine fermentor. Results from simulation and experimentation showed that higher agitation speeds led to increases in the pellet diameter and the proportion of pelletized (vs. filamentous) forms of the biomass. It also led to increase in dissolved oxygen mass transfer rate in shear-thinning fluid and cellulase productivity. The extent of these increases varied considerably among agitation speeds. Pellet formation and morphology were presumably affected within a viscosity-dependent shear-rate range. Cellulase activity and cell viability were shown to be sensitive to impeller shear. A maximum cellulase activity of 3.5 IU/mL was obtained at 400 rpm, representing a twofold increase over that at 100 rpm.     

Effect of spatial inlet velocity profiles on the vortex formation pattern in a dilated left ventricle

Despite the advancement of cardiac imaging technologies, these have traditionally been limited to global geometrical measurements. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has emerged as a reliable tool that provides flow ?eld information and other variables essential for the assessment of the cardiac function. Extensive studies have shown that vortex formation and propagation during the filling phase acts as a promising indicator for the diagnosis of the cardiac health condition. Proper setting of the boundary conditions is crucial in a CFD study as they are important determinants, that affect the simulation results. In this article, the effect of different transmitral velocity profiles (parabolic and uniform profile) on the vortex formation patterns during diastole was studied in a ventricle with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The resulting vortex evolution pattern using the uniform inlet velocity profile agreed with that reported in the literature, which revealed an increase in thrombus risk in a ventricle with DCM. However the application of a parabolic velocity profile at the inlet yields a deviated vortical flow pattern and overestimates the propagation velocity of the vortex ring towards the apex of the ventricle. This study highlighted that uniform inlet velocity profile should be applied in the study of the filling dynamics in a left ventricle because it produces results closer to that observed experimentally.     

Computational fluid dynamics in abdominal aorta bifurcation: non-Newtonian versus Newtonian blood flow in a real case study

Hemodynamic in abdominal aorta bifurcation was investigated in a real case using computational fluid dynamics. A Newtonian and non-Newtonian (Walburn-Schneck) viscosity models were compared. The geometrical model was obtained by 3D reconstruction from CT-scan and hemodynamic parameters obtained by laser-Doppler. Blood was assumed incompressible fluid, laminar flow in transient regime and rigid vessel wall. Finite volume-based was used to study the velocity, pressure, wall shear stress (WSS) and viscosity throughout cardiac cycle. Results obtained with Walburn-Schneck’s model, during systole, present lower viscosity due to shear thinning behavior. Furthermore, there is a significant difference between the results obtained by the two models for a specific patient. During the systole, differences are more pronounced and are preferably located in the tortuous regions of the artery. Throughout the cardiac cycle, the WSS amplitude between the systole and diastole is greater for the Walburn-Schneck’s model than for the Newtonian model. However, the average viscosity along the artery is always greater for the non-Newtonian model, except in the systolic peak. The hemodynamic model is crucial to validate results obtained with CFD and to explore clinical potential.     

A computational study of systemic hydration in vocal fold collision

Mechanical stresses develop within vocal fold (VF) soft tissues due to phonation-associated vibration and collision. These stresses in turn affect the hydration of VF tissue and thus influence voice health. In this paper, high-fidelity numerical computations are described, taking into account fully 3D geometry, realistic tissue and air properties, and high-amplitude vibration and collision. A segregated solver approach is employed, using sophisticated commercial solvers for both the VF tissue and glottal airflow domains. The tissue viscoelastic properties were derived from a biphasic formulation. Two cases were considered, whereby the tissue viscoelastic properties corresponded to two different volume fractions of the fluid phase of the VF tissue. For each case, hydrostatic stresses occurring as a result of vibration and collision were investigated. Assuming the VF tissue to be poroelastic, interstitial fluid movement within VF tissue was estimated from the hydrostatic stress gradient. Computed measures of overall VF dynamics (peak airflow velocity, magnitude of VF deformation, frequency of vibration and contact pressure) were well within the range of experimentally observed values. The VF motion leading to mechanical stresses within the VFs and their effect on the interstitial fluid flux is detailed. It is found that average deformation and vibration of VFs tend to increase the state of hydration of the VF tissue, whereas VF collision works to reduce hydration.