Abstract

Bileaflet mechanical valves have the complications such as hemolysis and thromboembolism, leaflet damage, and leaflet break. These complications are related with the fluid velocity and shear stress characteristics of mechanical heart valves. The first aim of the current study is to introduce fluid-structure interaction method for calculation of unsteady and three-dimensional blood flow through bileaflet valve and leaflet behavior interacted with its flow, and to overcome the shortness of the previous studies, where the leaflet motion has been ignored or simplified, by using FSI method. A finite volume computational fluid dynamics code and a finite element structure dynamics code have been used concurrently to solve the flow and structure equations, respectively, to investigate the interaction between the blood flow and leaflet. As a result, it is observed that the leaflet is closing very slowly at the first stage of processing but it goes too fast at the last stage. And the results noted that the low pressure is formed behind leaflet to make the cavitation because of closing velocity three times faster than opening velocity. Also it is observed some fluttering phenomenon when the leaflet is completely opened. And the rebounce phenomenon due to the sudden pressure change of before and after the leaflet just before closing completely. The some of time-delay is presented between the inversion point of ventricle and aorta pressure and closing point of leaflet. The shear stress is bigger and the time of exposure is longer when the flow rate is maximum. So it is concluded that the distribution of shear stress at complete opening stage has big effect on the blood damage, and that the low-pressure region appeared behind leaflet at complete closing stage has also effect on the blood damage.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call