Multidisciplinary Analysis of Fluid Dynamic Characteristics in Human Respiratory Airway

Multidisciplinary analyses considering fluid-structure interactions of a lung bifurcation generations 3 to 5 were performed using a finite element model to investigate effects of airway wall motion on flow field patterns. The analyses involved stationary-rigid walls, moving-rigid walls, and flexible walls. The results demonstrated that differences occurred among these three cases. Airflow velocity was at a maximum for stationary-rigid walls and was at a minimum for flexible walls. Stiffness of airway walls was observed to be an additional variable affecting flow field patterns.