Overset meshing in combination with novel blended weak-strong fluid-structure interactions for simulations of a translating valve in series with a second valve

Abstract

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices can bridge the gap to transplant whilst awaiting a viable donor heart. The Realheart Total Artificial Heart is a novel positive-displacement MCS that generates pulsatile flow via bileaflet mechanical valves. This study developed a combined computational fluid dynamics and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) methodology for simulating positive displacement bileaflet valves. Overset meshing discretised the fluid domain, and a blended weak-strong coupling FSI algorithm was combined with variable time-stepping. Four operating conditions of relevant stroke lengths and rates were assessed. The results demonstrated this modelling strategy is stable and efficient for modelling positive-displacement artificial hearts.

Keywords:

• Computational fluid dynamics
• fluid-structure interactions
• mechanical heart valve
• positive displacement
• total artificial heart

Disclosure statement

AN and ILP are employees of, or consultants to, and/or shareholders of, Scandinavian Real Heart AB.

Additional information

Funding

JB PhD funded 50/50 from EPSRC and Scandinavian Real Heart AB (Reference: 2426107)