On the 2D-1D Coupling in Numerical Simulations of Simplified Air Flow Model in Human Airways

Abstract

This paper presents selected results regarding the implementation, validation and testing of a simple 2D-1D coupled model designed to capture some essential features of the oscillatory air flow in human respiratory system. The model relies on a 2D flow model solved by a simple finite-difference scheme in the immersed boundary setting. The incompressible fluid flow from this model is coupled to a simplified 1D fluid-structure-interaction model simulating the flow in a tube with elastic walls. Some first results obtained using the coupled 2D-1D model in an oscillating (Womersley-like) type of flow are presented and discussed in detail. The influence of model parameters is explored for a range of physically relevant settings.

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