PIV measurements of velocity fields in glottis on a physical vocal fold model

The velocity fields along a selfvibrating physical model of vocal folds were studied experimentally. The shape of the vocal folds was specified according to data measured on excised human larynges in phonation position. The model was fabricated in 1:4 scale as a silicone body vibrating in the wall of a plexiglass wind tunnel. The model is not excited externally and oscillates only due to coupling with the flow. In addition to acoustic, subglottal pressure and impact intensity measurements, flow velocity fields were recorded in the coronal plane using particle image velocimetry, in the domain immediately above glottis. Analysis of the PIV images taken within 25 phases of one vibration cycle gives good insight into the dynamics of the supraglottal flow.