FE numerical simulation of incompressible airflow in the glottal channel periodically closed by self-sustained vocal folds vibration

Abstract

In this paper a simplified mathematical model related to human phonation process is presented. Main attention is paid to the treatment of vocal fold vibrations excited by viscous incompressible airflow, which is stopped (chopped) by their periodical contacts. The Hertz impact model is used in the structural part and two new strategies are suggested to treat the contact phenomena in the fluid model. The numerical discretization by finite element (FE) method is described and the model problem is numerically approximated using a penalty approach in the inlet boundary condition for airflow and a thin porous layer in the glottis during the glottal closure. The numerical results are presented and discussed.