English

CFD simulations of turbulent flow in the human upper airways

Medical Physics 2017-06-09 v1 Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

In this paper, investigations are conducted using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models to investigate the importance of turbulence modelling for nasal inspiration at a constant flow rate of 250 ml/s. Four different, standard turbulence models are tested in a model geometry based on pre-operative CT images of a selected obstructive sleep-apnea syndrome (OSAS) patient. The results show only minor differences between them. Furthermore, the turbulence models do not give significantly different results than a laminar flow model. Thus, the main conclusion is that effects of turbulence are insignificant in CFD modelling of the airflow in the pre-operative model of the upper airways of the chosen patient.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1706.02565,
  title  = {CFD simulations of turbulent flow in the human upper airways},
  author = {Elin Aasgrav and Sverre Gullikstad Johnsen and Are Johan Simonsen and Bernhard Müller},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1706.02565},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on CFD in Oil & Gas, Metallurgical and Process Industries, Trondheim, Norway, May 30th - June 1st, 2017, 6 apges, 9 figures