Fluid-reduced-solid interaction (FrSI): Physics- and projection-based model reduction for cardiovascular applications

Abstract

Fluid-solid interaction (FSI) phenomena play an important role in many biomedical engineering applications. While FSI techniques and models have enabled detailed computational simulations of flow and tissue motion, the application of FSI can present challenges, particularly when data for constraining models is sparse and/or when fast computational simulations are required for assessment. In this paper, we propose a novel method for flexible-wall fluid dynamics in an ALE framework applicable for cardiovascular applications where adaptive fluid motion that emulates patient data is required. Efficiency and model simplicity are gained by a physics-based reduction to solid membrane formulations at the fluid-tissue interface combined with a Galerkin projection to a subspace spanned by boundary motion modes, leveraging snapshots observed from imaging data by use of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). The resulting fluid-reduced-solid interaction (FrSI) model is verified for a series of examples, illustrating efficacy and efficiency. Focusing on an idealized left ventricle model, we demonstrate homogenization of transmural active stress along with the capacity to accommodate prestress in the FrSI model, accounting for whole cycle mechanics by coupling to 0D pre- and afterload models (showing end-diastolic and end-systolic projected endocardial surface position errors of less than 1.5% and 3.5%, respectively). Further, we present strategies to compensate for the inherent approximation errors of the FrSI model, allowing for minimizing both the integral and spatial error between reduced and full-order model by re-calibrating parameters that govern diastolic and systolic function. Finally, the ability of FrSI to extrapolate to impaired system states (increased afterload, localized region of infarct) is shown, providing a simple yet effective strategy to enhance the POD subspace to further reduce errors. These results illustrate the potential of FrSI to streamline the simulation of hemodynamics in the heart and cardiovascular system.