Abstract
A full three-dimensional (3D) fluid-structure interaction (FSI) study of subject-specific vocal fold vibration is carried out based on the previously reconstructed vocal fold models of rabbit larynges. Our primary focuses are the vibration characteristics of the vocal fold, the unsteady 3D flow field, and comparison with a recently developed 1D glottal flow model that incorporates machine learning. The 3D FSI model applies strong coupling between the finite-element model for the vocal fold tissue and the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation for the flow. Five different samples of the rabbit larynx, reconstructed from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans after the in vivo phonation experiments, are used in the FSI simulation. These samples have distinct geometries and a different inlet pressure measured in the experiment. Furthermore, the material properties of the vocal fold tissue were determined previously for each individual sample. The results demonstrate that the vibration and the intraglottal pressure from the 3D flow simulation agree well with those from the 1D flow model based simulation. Further 3D analyses show that the inferior and supraglottal geometries play significant roles in the FSI process. Similarity of the flow pattern with the human vocal fold is discussed. This study supports the effective usage of rabbit larynges to understand human phonation and will help guide our future computational studies that address vocal fold disorders.
Highlights
The voice production process, or phonation, involves flow-induced vocal fold vibration and is a complex nonlinear interplay between the glottal aerodynamics and the structural dynamics of the elastic vocal fold tissue
We have demonstrated the ability to integrate the in vivo phonation experiment using rabbits and perform corresponding subject-specific fluid-structure interaction (FSI) modeling of the vocal fold vibration [27]
We have included both the 3D FSI simulation result and 1D-flow based FSI result from our previous work [34]
Summary
The voice production process, or phonation, involves flow-induced vocal fold vibration and is a complex nonlinear interplay between the glottal aerodynamics and the structural dynamics of the elastic vocal fold tissue. The study of this fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problem will be useful in the understanding of its complex biological process as well as in the applications of surgical plannings, diagnosis, and tool development [1–5]. Most of the earlier computational models focused on idealized and generic representations for the laryngeal geometry These models include structural models utilizing the finite element method and coupled with a one-, two-, or three-dimensional (1D, 2D, or 3D) flow solver to simulate the FSI process [6–13]. Readers are encouraged to refer to Mittal et al [3] to get an overview on the status of the computational phonation modeling and the need for more research efforts pertaining to the topic
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
