Using Image-based CFD to Investigate the Intracardiac Turbulence

Christophe Chnafa (1) , Simon Mendez (1) , Ramiro Moreno (2) , Franck Nicoud (1)

1 I3M - Institut de Mathématiques et de Modélisation de Montpellier
2 I2MR - Institut de médecine moléculaire de Rangueil

A numerical framework designed to compute the blood flow in patient-specific human hearts is presented. The geometry of the heart cavities and associated wall motion are extracted from 4D medical images while the valves of the heart are accounted for thanks to low order geometrical models. The resulting blood flow equations are solved using a fourth-order low-dissipative finite-volume scheme and a mixed Aribtrary Lagrangian-Eulerian / Immersed Boundary framework. On top of retrieving the main fluid flow phenomena commonly observed in the left heart, the methodology allows studying the heart flow dynamics, including the turbulence characteristics and cycle-to-cycle variations.

Mots clés: left heart; left ventricle; left atrium; patient specific; turbulence; LES; CFD

Domaines: Biomécanique [physics.med-ph]; Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]; Modélisation et simulation

Christophe Chnafa, Simon Mendez, Ramiro Moreno, Franck Nicoud. Using Image-based CFD to Investigate the Intracardiac Turbulence. Modeling the Heart and the Circulatory System, 14, Springer International Publishing, pp.97-117, 2015, MS&A, 978-3-319-05230-4. ⟨10.1007/978-3-319-05230-4_4⟩. ⟨hal-01152496⟩