Yann Delorme | Technion Israel Institute of Technology (original) (raw)

Papers by Yann Delorme

Research paper thumbnail of High Order WENO Simulation of Electrokinetic Instability in a Cross-Shaped Microchannel

Research paper thumbnail of High Order Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of Flow in Idealized Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC)

Bulletin of the American Physical Society, 2011

ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experime... more ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experimental studies of the TCPC. Low-order numerical methods have been shown to be unable to capture these unsteady flow structures when compared to experimental flow studies. A high-order incompressible LES code is combined with a recent Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) to enable structured Cartesian grids to represent the TCPC geometry. Validation studies for canonical flows and recent PIV data for the TCPC case are shown. Analysis of the instantaneous vortical structure and mean statistics are presented to further elucidate the complex flow patterns and wall shear stress distributions. Recent studies proved that mechanical support through a Viscous Impeller Pump (VIP) can improve TCPC hemodynamics by increasing the pressure and the blood flow through the lungs. The inclusion of this novel VIP to power the Fontan circulation is also studied with further comparisons to PIV and HQ data. Finally, dynamic mode decomposition is used to study TCPC flow modes and particle transport is considered to assess thrombosis potential.

Research paper thumbnail of High-Order Large Eddy Simulation and Immersed Boundary Method on Dynamic Meshes: Application to Rotorcraft Aerodynamics

Research paper thumbnail of Performance Assessment of High-Order Large Eddy Simulation and Immersed Boundary Method for Rotorcraft Hover

Research paper thumbnail of High order Large Eddy Simulation of unpowered and powered Fontan hemodynamics in idealized and patient specific geometries

Research paper thumbnail of Computational Assessment of Actuator Line Model for Large Eddy Simulation of Rotor Noise

Research paper thumbnail of Accuracy Assessment of RANS Predictions of Active Flow Control for Hydrofoil Cavitation

Processes

In this work, we numerically investigate the cavitating flow on the scaled-down 2D model of guide... more In this work, we numerically investigate the cavitating flow on the scaled-down 2D model of guided vanes. Furthermore, the effects of wall injection on both the cavitation and on the hydrodynamic performance of the guided vane are studied. The numerical simulations are performed using OpenFOAM v1906. We used a 2D k- ω SST model for modeling the turbulence in the present set of simulations. We studied the flow for two angles of attack, viz. 3 ∘ and 9 ∘ . For the 3 ∘ angle of attack, the present numerical work is in good agreement with the previous experimental work, but for the larger angle of attack, because of flow separation, the present simulations do not capture the flow correctly.

Research paper thumbnail of A simple and efficient incompressible Navier–Stokes solver for unsteady complex geometry flows on truncated domains

Computers & Fluids

Incompressible Navier-Stokes solvers based on the projection method often require an expensive nu... more Incompressible Navier-Stokes solvers based on the projection method often require an expensive numerical solution of a Poisson equation for a pressure-like variable. This often involves linear system solvers based on iterative and multigrid methods which may limit the ability to scale to large numbers of processors. The artificial compressibility method (ACM) [6] introduces a time derivative of the pressure into the incompressible form of the continuity equation creating a coupled closed hyperbolic system that does not require a Poisson equation solution and allows for explicit time-marching and localized stencil numerical methods. Such a scheme should theoretically scale well on large numbers of CPUs, GPU's, or hybrid CPU-GPU architectures. The original ACM was only valid for steady flows and dual-time stepping was often used for time-accurate simulations. Recently, Clausen [7] has proposed the entropically damped artificial compressibility (EDAC) method which is applicable to both steady and unsteady flows without the need for dual-time stepping. The EDAC scheme was successfully tested with both a finite-difference MacCormack's method for the two-dimensional lid driven cavity and periodic double shear layer problem and a finite-element method for flow over a square cylinder, with scaling studies on the latter to large numbers of processors. In this study, we discretize the EDAC formulation with a new optimized high-order centered finite-difference scheme and an explicit fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. This is combined with an immersed boundary method to efficiently treat complex geometries and a new robust outflow boundary condition to enable higher Reynolds number simulations on truncated domains. Validation studies for the Taylor-Green Vortex problem and the lid driven cavity problem in both 2D and 3D are presented. An eddy viscosity subgrid-scale model is used to enable large eddy simulations for the 3D cases. Finally, an application to flow over a sphere is presented to highlight the boundary condition and performance comparisons to a traditional incompressible Navier-Stokes solver is shown for the 3D lid driven cavity. Overall, the combined EDAC formulation and discretization is shown to be both effective and affordable.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiblock High Order Large Eddy Simulation of Powered Fontan Hemodynamics: Towards Computational Surgery

Computers & fluids, Jan 17, 2017

Children born with only one functional ventricle must typically undergo a series of three surgeri... more Children born with only one functional ventricle must typically undergo a series of three surgeries to obtain the so-called Fontan circulation in which the blood coming from the body passively flows from the Vena Cavae (VCs) to the Pulmonary Arteries (PAs) through the Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC). The circulation is inherently inefficient due to the lack of a subpulmonary ventricle. Survivors face the risk of circulatory sequelae and eventual failure for the duration of their lives. Current efforts are focused on improving the outcomes of Fontan palliation, either passively by optimizing the TCPC, or actively by using mechanical support. We are working on a chronic implant that would be placed at the junction of the TCPC, and would provide the necessary pressure augmentation to re-establish a circulation that recapitulates a normal two-ventricle circulation. This implant is based on the Von Karman viscous pump and consists of a vaned impeller that rotates inside the TCPC. T...

Research paper thumbnail of Experimental study of powered Fontan hemodynamics in idealized total cavopulmonary connection model

Research paper thumbnail of Large Eddy Simulation of FDA’s Idealized Medical Device

Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, 2013

A hybrid large eddy simulation and immersed boundary method (IBM) computational approach is used ... more A hybrid large eddy simulation and immersed boundary method (IBM) computational approach is used to make quantitative predictions of flow field statistics within the Food and Drug Administration's idealized medical device. An in-house code is used, hereafter (WenoHemo TM), that combines high-order finite-difference schemes on structured staggered Cartesian grids with an IBM to facilitate flow over or through complex stationary or rotating geometries and employs a subgrid-scale turbulence model that more naturally handles transitional flows (Delorme et al., J Biomech 46:207-436, 2013). Predictions of velocity and wall shear stress statistics are compared with previously published experimental measurements from Hariharan et al. (J Biomech Eng 133:041002, 2011) for the four Reynolds numbers considered.

Research paper thumbnail of A novel multiblock immersed boundary method for large eddy simulation of complex arterial hemodynamics

Journal of Computational Physics, 2013

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are becoming a reliable tool to understand hemodyn... more Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are becoming a reliable tool to understand hemodynamics, disease progression in pathological blood vessels and to predict medical device performance. Immersed boundary method (IBM) emerged as an attractive methodology because of its ability to efficiently handle complex moving and rotating geometries on structured grids. However, its application to study blood flow in complex, branching, patient-specific anatomies is scarce. This is because of the dominance of grid nodes in the exterior of the fluid domain over the useful grid nodes in the interior, rendering an inevitable memory and computational overhead. In order to alleviate this problem, we propose a novel multiblock based IBM that preserves the simplicity and effectiveness of the IBM on structured Cartesian meshes and enables handling of complex, anatomical geometries at a reduced memory overhead by minimizing the grid nodes in the exterior of the fluid domain. As pathological and medical device hemodynamics often involve complex, unsteady transitional or turbulent flow fields, a scale resolving turbulence model such as large eddy simulation (LES) is used in the present work. The proposed solver (here after referred as WenoHemo), is developed by enhancing an existing in-house high order incompressible flow solver that was previously validated for its numerics and several LES models by Shetty et al. [Journal of Computational Physics 2010; 229 (23), 8802-8822]. In the present work, WenoHemo is systematically validated for additional numerics introduced, such as IBM and the multiblock approach, by simulating laminar flow over a sphere and laminar flow over a backward facing step respectively. Then, we validate the entire solver methodology by simulating laminar and transitional flow in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Finally, we perform blood flow simulations in the challenging clinically relevant thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), to gain insights into the type of fluid flow patterns that exist in pathological blood vessels. Results obtained from the TAA simulations reveal complex vortical and unsteady flow fields that need to be considered in designing and implanting medical devices such as stent grafts.

Research paper thumbnail of Large Eddy Simulation of Transitional Flow in an Idealized Stenotic Blood Vessel: Evaluation of Subgrid Scale Models

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 2014

In the present study, we performed large eddy simulation (LES) of axisymmetric, and 75% stenosed,... more In the present study, we performed large eddy simulation (LES) of axisymmetric, and 75% stenosed, eccentric arterial models with steady inflow conditions at a Reynolds number of 1000. The results obtained are compared with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data (Varghese et al., 2007, “Direct Numerical Simulation of Stenotic Flows. Part 1. Steady Flow,” J. Fluid Mech., 582, pp. 253–280). An inhouse code (WenoHemo) employing high-order numerical methods for spatial and temporal terms, along with a 2nd order accurate ghost point immersed boundary method (IBM) (Mark, and Vanwachem, 2008, “Derivation and Validation of a Novel Implicit Second-Order Accurate Immersed Boundary Method,” J. Comput. Phys., 227(13), pp. 6660–6680) for enforcing boundary conditions on curved geometries is used for simulations. Three subgrid scale (SGS) models, namely, the classical Smagorinsky model (Smagorinsky, 1963, “General Circulation Experiments With the Primitive Equations,” Mon. Weather Rev., 91(10)...

Research paper thumbnail of Experimental characterization of powered Fontan hemodynamics in an idealized total cavopulmonary connection model

Experiments in Fluids, 2013

A viscous impeller pump (VIP) based on the Von Karman viscous pump is specifically designed to pr... more A viscous impeller pump (VIP) based on the Von Karman viscous pump is specifically designed to provide cavopulmonary assist in a univentricular Fontan circulation. The technology will make it possible to biventricularize the univentricular Fontan circulation. Ideally, it will reduce the number of surgeries required for Fontan conversion from three to one early in life, while simultaneously improving physiological conditions. Later in life, it will provide a currently unavailable means of chronic support for adolescent and adult patients with failing Fontan circulations. Computational fluid dynamics simulations demonstrate that the VIP can satisfactorily augment cavopulmonary blood flow in an idealized total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). When the VIP is deployed at the TCPC intersection as a static device, it stabilizes the four-way flow pattern and is not obstructive to the flow. Experimental studies are carried out to assess performance, hemodynamic characteristics, and flow structures of the VIP in an idealized TCPC model. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry is applied using index-matched blood analog. Results show excellent performance of the VIP without cavitation and with reduction of the energy losses. The non-rotating VIP smoothes and accelerates flow, and decreases stresses and turbulence in the TCPC. The rotating VIP generates the desired low-pressure Fontan flow augmentation (0-10 mmHg) while maintaining acceptable stress thresholds.

Research paper thumbnail of High Order Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of Flow in Idealized Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC)

ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experime... more ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experimental studies of the TCPC. Low-order numerical methods have been shown to be unable to capture these unsteady flow structures when compared to experimental flow studies. A high-order incompressible LES code is combined with a recent Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) to enable structured Cartesian grids to represent the TCPC geometry. Validation studies for canonical flows and recent PIV data for the TCPC case are shown. Analysis of the instantaneous vortical structure and mean statistics are presented to further elucidate the complex flow patterns and wall shear stress distributions. Recent studies proved that mechanical support through a Viscous Impeller Pump (VIP) can improve TCPC hemodynamics by increasing the pressure and the blood flow through the lungs. The inclusion of this novel VIP to power the Fontan circulation is also studied with further comparisons to PIV and HQ data. Finally, dynamic mode decomposition is used to study TCPC flow modes and particle transport is considered to assess thrombosis potential.

Research paper thumbnail of Large eddy simulation of powered Fontan hemodynamics

Children born with univentricular heart disease typically must undergo three open heart surgeries... more Children born with univentricular heart disease typically must undergo three open heart surgeries within the first 2-3 years of life to eventually establish the Fontan circulation. In that case the single working ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body and blood returns to the lungs flowing passively through the Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC) rather than being actively pumped by a subpulmonary ventricle. The TCPC is a direct surgical connection between the superior and inferior vena cava and the left and right pulmonary arteries. We have postulated that a mechanical pump inserted into this circulation providing a 3-5 mmHg pressure augmentation will reestablish biventricular physiology serving as a bridge-to-recovery, bridge-to-transplant or destination therapy as a ''biventricular Fontan'' circulation. The Viscous Impeller Pump (VIP) has been proposed by our group as such an assist device. It is situated in the center of the 4-way TCPC intersection and spins pulling blood from the vena cavae and pushing it into the pulmonary arteries. We hypothesized that Large Eddy Simulation (LES) using high-order numerical methods are needed to capture unsteady powered and unpowered Fontan hemodynamics. Inclusion of a mechanical pump into the CFD further complicates matters due to the need to account for rotating machinery. In this study, we focus on predictions from an in-house high-order LES code (WenoHemo TM) for unpowered and VIP-powered idealized TCPC hemodynamics with quantitative comparisons to Stereoscopic Particle Imaging Velocimetry (SPIV) measurements. Results are presented for both instantaneous flow structures and statistical data. Simulations show good qualitative and quantitative agreement with measured data.

Research paper thumbnail of Dynamic mode decomposition of Fontan hemodynamics in an idealized total cavopulmonary connection

Fluid Dynamics Research, 2014

Univentricular heart disease is the leading cause of death from any birth defect in the first yea... more Univentricular heart disease is the leading cause of death from any birth defect in the first year of life. Typically, patients have to undergo three open heart surgical procedures within the first few years of their lives to eventually directly connect the superior and inferior vena cavae to the left and right pulmonary arteries forming the Total Cavopulmonary Connection or TCPC. The end result is a weak circulation where the single working ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body and de-oxygenated blood flows passively through the TCPC into the lungs. The fluid dynamics of the TCPC junction involve confined impinging jets resulting in a highly unstable flow, significant mechanical energy dissipation, and undesirable pressure loss. Understanding and predicting such flows is important for improving the surgical procedure and for the design of mechanical cavopulmonary assist devices. In this study, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) is used to analyze previously obtained Stereoscopic Particle Imaging Velocimetry (SPIV) data and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results for an idealized TCPC. Analysis of the DMD modes from the SPIV and LES serve to both highlight the unsteady vortical dynamics and the qualitative agreement between measurements and simulations.

Research paper thumbnail of High order Large Eddy Simulation of unpowered and powered Fontan hemodynamics in idealized and patient specific geometries

Research paper thumbnail of Parametric numerical study of electrokinetic instability in cross-shaped microchannels

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Summation-by-Parts Operators with Minimal Dispersion Error for Accurate and Efficient Flow Calculations

54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of High Order WENO Simulation of Electrokinetic Instability in a Cross-Shaped Microchannel

Research paper thumbnail of High Order Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of Flow in Idealized Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC)

Bulletin of the American Physical Society, 2011

ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experime... more ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experimental studies of the TCPC. Low-order numerical methods have been shown to be unable to capture these unsteady flow structures when compared to experimental flow studies. A high-order incompressible LES code is combined with a recent Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) to enable structured Cartesian grids to represent the TCPC geometry. Validation studies for canonical flows and recent PIV data for the TCPC case are shown. Analysis of the instantaneous vortical structure and mean statistics are presented to further elucidate the complex flow patterns and wall shear stress distributions. Recent studies proved that mechanical support through a Viscous Impeller Pump (VIP) can improve TCPC hemodynamics by increasing the pressure and the blood flow through the lungs. The inclusion of this novel VIP to power the Fontan circulation is also studied with further comparisons to PIV and HQ data. Finally, dynamic mode decomposition is used to study TCPC flow modes and particle transport is considered to assess thrombosis potential.

Research paper thumbnail of High-Order Large Eddy Simulation and Immersed Boundary Method on Dynamic Meshes: Application to Rotorcraft Aerodynamics

Research paper thumbnail of Performance Assessment of High-Order Large Eddy Simulation and Immersed Boundary Method for Rotorcraft Hover

Research paper thumbnail of High order Large Eddy Simulation of unpowered and powered Fontan hemodynamics in idealized and patient specific geometries

Research paper thumbnail of Computational Assessment of Actuator Line Model for Large Eddy Simulation of Rotor Noise

Research paper thumbnail of Accuracy Assessment of RANS Predictions of Active Flow Control for Hydrofoil Cavitation

Processes

In this work, we numerically investigate the cavitating flow on the scaled-down 2D model of guide... more In this work, we numerically investigate the cavitating flow on the scaled-down 2D model of guided vanes. Furthermore, the effects of wall injection on both the cavitation and on the hydrodynamic performance of the guided vane are studied. The numerical simulations are performed using OpenFOAM v1906. We used a 2D k- ω SST model for modeling the turbulence in the present set of simulations. We studied the flow for two angles of attack, viz. 3 ∘ and 9 ∘ . For the 3 ∘ angle of attack, the present numerical work is in good agreement with the previous experimental work, but for the larger angle of attack, because of flow separation, the present simulations do not capture the flow correctly.

Research paper thumbnail of A simple and efficient incompressible Navier–Stokes solver for unsteady complex geometry flows on truncated domains

Computers & Fluids

Incompressible Navier-Stokes solvers based on the projection method often require an expensive nu... more Incompressible Navier-Stokes solvers based on the projection method often require an expensive numerical solution of a Poisson equation for a pressure-like variable. This often involves linear system solvers based on iterative and multigrid methods which may limit the ability to scale to large numbers of processors. The artificial compressibility method (ACM) [6] introduces a time derivative of the pressure into the incompressible form of the continuity equation creating a coupled closed hyperbolic system that does not require a Poisson equation solution and allows for explicit time-marching and localized stencil numerical methods. Such a scheme should theoretically scale well on large numbers of CPUs, GPU's, or hybrid CPU-GPU architectures. The original ACM was only valid for steady flows and dual-time stepping was often used for time-accurate simulations. Recently, Clausen [7] has proposed the entropically damped artificial compressibility (EDAC) method which is applicable to both steady and unsteady flows without the need for dual-time stepping. The EDAC scheme was successfully tested with both a finite-difference MacCormack's method for the two-dimensional lid driven cavity and periodic double shear layer problem and a finite-element method for flow over a square cylinder, with scaling studies on the latter to large numbers of processors. In this study, we discretize the EDAC formulation with a new optimized high-order centered finite-difference scheme and an explicit fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. This is combined with an immersed boundary method to efficiently treat complex geometries and a new robust outflow boundary condition to enable higher Reynolds number simulations on truncated domains. Validation studies for the Taylor-Green Vortex problem and the lid driven cavity problem in both 2D and 3D are presented. An eddy viscosity subgrid-scale model is used to enable large eddy simulations for the 3D cases. Finally, an application to flow over a sphere is presented to highlight the boundary condition and performance comparisons to a traditional incompressible Navier-Stokes solver is shown for the 3D lid driven cavity. Overall, the combined EDAC formulation and discretization is shown to be both effective and affordable.

Research paper thumbnail of Multiblock High Order Large Eddy Simulation of Powered Fontan Hemodynamics: Towards Computational Surgery

Computers & fluids, Jan 17, 2017

Children born with only one functional ventricle must typically undergo a series of three surgeri... more Children born with only one functional ventricle must typically undergo a series of three surgeries to obtain the so-called Fontan circulation in which the blood coming from the body passively flows from the Vena Cavae (VCs) to the Pulmonary Arteries (PAs) through the Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC). The circulation is inherently inefficient due to the lack of a subpulmonary ventricle. Survivors face the risk of circulatory sequelae and eventual failure for the duration of their lives. Current efforts are focused on improving the outcomes of Fontan palliation, either passively by optimizing the TCPC, or actively by using mechanical support. We are working on a chronic implant that would be placed at the junction of the TCPC, and would provide the necessary pressure augmentation to re-establish a circulation that recapitulates a normal two-ventricle circulation. This implant is based on the Von Karman viscous pump and consists of a vaned impeller that rotates inside the TCPC. T...

Research paper thumbnail of Experimental study of powered Fontan hemodynamics in idealized total cavopulmonary connection model

Research paper thumbnail of Large Eddy Simulation of FDA’s Idealized Medical Device

Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, 2013

A hybrid large eddy simulation and immersed boundary method (IBM) computational approach is used ... more A hybrid large eddy simulation and immersed boundary method (IBM) computational approach is used to make quantitative predictions of flow field statistics within the Food and Drug Administration's idealized medical device. An in-house code is used, hereafter (WenoHemo TM), that combines high-order finite-difference schemes on structured staggered Cartesian grids with an IBM to facilitate flow over or through complex stationary or rotating geometries and employs a subgrid-scale turbulence model that more naturally handles transitional flows (Delorme et al., J Biomech 46:207-436, 2013). Predictions of velocity and wall shear stress statistics are compared with previously published experimental measurements from Hariharan et al. (J Biomech Eng 133:041002, 2011) for the four Reynolds numbers considered.

Research paper thumbnail of A novel multiblock immersed boundary method for large eddy simulation of complex arterial hemodynamics

Journal of Computational Physics, 2013

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are becoming a reliable tool to understand hemodyn... more Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are becoming a reliable tool to understand hemodynamics, disease progression in pathological blood vessels and to predict medical device performance. Immersed boundary method (IBM) emerged as an attractive methodology because of its ability to efficiently handle complex moving and rotating geometries on structured grids. However, its application to study blood flow in complex, branching, patient-specific anatomies is scarce. This is because of the dominance of grid nodes in the exterior of the fluid domain over the useful grid nodes in the interior, rendering an inevitable memory and computational overhead. In order to alleviate this problem, we propose a novel multiblock based IBM that preserves the simplicity and effectiveness of the IBM on structured Cartesian meshes and enables handling of complex, anatomical geometries at a reduced memory overhead by minimizing the grid nodes in the exterior of the fluid domain. As pathological and medical device hemodynamics often involve complex, unsteady transitional or turbulent flow fields, a scale resolving turbulence model such as large eddy simulation (LES) is used in the present work. The proposed solver (here after referred as WenoHemo), is developed by enhancing an existing in-house high order incompressible flow solver that was previously validated for its numerics and several LES models by Shetty et al. [Journal of Computational Physics 2010; 229 (23), 8802-8822]. In the present work, WenoHemo is systematically validated for additional numerics introduced, such as IBM and the multiblock approach, by simulating laminar flow over a sphere and laminar flow over a backward facing step respectively. Then, we validate the entire solver methodology by simulating laminar and transitional flow in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Finally, we perform blood flow simulations in the challenging clinically relevant thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), to gain insights into the type of fluid flow patterns that exist in pathological blood vessels. Results obtained from the TAA simulations reveal complex vortical and unsteady flow fields that need to be considered in designing and implanting medical devices such as stent grafts.

Research paper thumbnail of Large Eddy Simulation of Transitional Flow in an Idealized Stenotic Blood Vessel: Evaluation of Subgrid Scale Models

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 2014

In the present study, we performed large eddy simulation (LES) of axisymmetric, and 75% stenosed,... more In the present study, we performed large eddy simulation (LES) of axisymmetric, and 75% stenosed, eccentric arterial models with steady inflow conditions at a Reynolds number of 1000. The results obtained are compared with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data (Varghese et al., 2007, “Direct Numerical Simulation of Stenotic Flows. Part 1. Steady Flow,” J. Fluid Mech., 582, pp. 253–280). An inhouse code (WenoHemo) employing high-order numerical methods for spatial and temporal terms, along with a 2nd order accurate ghost point immersed boundary method (IBM) (Mark, and Vanwachem, 2008, “Derivation and Validation of a Novel Implicit Second-Order Accurate Immersed Boundary Method,” J. Comput. Phys., 227(13), pp. 6660–6680) for enforcing boundary conditions on curved geometries is used for simulations. Three subgrid scale (SGS) models, namely, the classical Smagorinsky model (Smagorinsky, 1963, “General Circulation Experiments With the Primitive Equations,” Mon. Weather Rev., 91(10)...

Research paper thumbnail of Experimental characterization of powered Fontan hemodynamics in an idealized total cavopulmonary connection model

Experiments in Fluids, 2013

A viscous impeller pump (VIP) based on the Von Karman viscous pump is specifically designed to pr... more A viscous impeller pump (VIP) based on the Von Karman viscous pump is specifically designed to provide cavopulmonary assist in a univentricular Fontan circulation. The technology will make it possible to biventricularize the univentricular Fontan circulation. Ideally, it will reduce the number of surgeries required for Fontan conversion from three to one early in life, while simultaneously improving physiological conditions. Later in life, it will provide a currently unavailable means of chronic support for adolescent and adult patients with failing Fontan circulations. Computational fluid dynamics simulations demonstrate that the VIP can satisfactorily augment cavopulmonary blood flow in an idealized total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). When the VIP is deployed at the TCPC intersection as a static device, it stabilizes the four-way flow pattern and is not obstructive to the flow. Experimental studies are carried out to assess performance, hemodynamic characteristics, and flow structures of the VIP in an idealized TCPC model. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry is applied using index-matched blood analog. Results show excellent performance of the VIP without cavitation and with reduction of the energy losses. The non-rotating VIP smoothes and accelerates flow, and decreases stresses and turbulence in the TCPC. The rotating VIP generates the desired low-pressure Fontan flow augmentation (0-10 mmHg) while maintaining acceptable stress thresholds.

Research paper thumbnail of High Order Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of Flow in Idealized Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC)

ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experime... more ABSTRACT Irregular, transitional, and chaotic flow fields have been observed in previous experimental studies of the TCPC. Low-order numerical methods have been shown to be unable to capture these unsteady flow structures when compared to experimental flow studies. A high-order incompressible LES code is combined with a recent Immersed Boundary Method (IBM) to enable structured Cartesian grids to represent the TCPC geometry. Validation studies for canonical flows and recent PIV data for the TCPC case are shown. Analysis of the instantaneous vortical structure and mean statistics are presented to further elucidate the complex flow patterns and wall shear stress distributions. Recent studies proved that mechanical support through a Viscous Impeller Pump (VIP) can improve TCPC hemodynamics by increasing the pressure and the blood flow through the lungs. The inclusion of this novel VIP to power the Fontan circulation is also studied with further comparisons to PIV and HQ data. Finally, dynamic mode decomposition is used to study TCPC flow modes and particle transport is considered to assess thrombosis potential.

Research paper thumbnail of Large eddy simulation of powered Fontan hemodynamics

Children born with univentricular heart disease typically must undergo three open heart surgeries... more Children born with univentricular heart disease typically must undergo three open heart surgeries within the first 2-3 years of life to eventually establish the Fontan circulation. In that case the single working ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body and blood returns to the lungs flowing passively through the Total Cavopulmonary Connection (TCPC) rather than being actively pumped by a subpulmonary ventricle. The TCPC is a direct surgical connection between the superior and inferior vena cava and the left and right pulmonary arteries. We have postulated that a mechanical pump inserted into this circulation providing a 3-5 mmHg pressure augmentation will reestablish biventricular physiology serving as a bridge-to-recovery, bridge-to-transplant or destination therapy as a ''biventricular Fontan'' circulation. The Viscous Impeller Pump (VIP) has been proposed by our group as such an assist device. It is situated in the center of the 4-way TCPC intersection and spins pulling blood from the vena cavae and pushing it into the pulmonary arteries. We hypothesized that Large Eddy Simulation (LES) using high-order numerical methods are needed to capture unsteady powered and unpowered Fontan hemodynamics. Inclusion of a mechanical pump into the CFD further complicates matters due to the need to account for rotating machinery. In this study, we focus on predictions from an in-house high-order LES code (WenoHemo TM) for unpowered and VIP-powered idealized TCPC hemodynamics with quantitative comparisons to Stereoscopic Particle Imaging Velocimetry (SPIV) measurements. Results are presented for both instantaneous flow structures and statistical data. Simulations show good qualitative and quantitative agreement with measured data.

Research paper thumbnail of Dynamic mode decomposition of Fontan hemodynamics in an idealized total cavopulmonary connection

Fluid Dynamics Research, 2014

Univentricular heart disease is the leading cause of death from any birth defect in the first yea... more Univentricular heart disease is the leading cause of death from any birth defect in the first year of life. Typically, patients have to undergo three open heart surgical procedures within the first few years of their lives to eventually directly connect the superior and inferior vena cavae to the left and right pulmonary arteries forming the Total Cavopulmonary Connection or TCPC. The end result is a weak circulation where the single working ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body and de-oxygenated blood flows passively through the TCPC into the lungs. The fluid dynamics of the TCPC junction involve confined impinging jets resulting in a highly unstable flow, significant mechanical energy dissipation, and undesirable pressure loss. Understanding and predicting such flows is important for improving the surgical procedure and for the design of mechanical cavopulmonary assist devices. In this study, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) is used to analyze previously obtained Stereoscopic Particle Imaging Velocimetry (SPIV) data and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results for an idealized TCPC. Analysis of the DMD modes from the SPIV and LES serve to both highlight the unsteady vortical dynamics and the qualitative agreement between measurements and simulations.

Research paper thumbnail of High order Large Eddy Simulation of unpowered and powered Fontan hemodynamics in idealized and patient specific geometries

Research paper thumbnail of Parametric numerical study of electrokinetic instability in cross-shaped microchannels

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Summation-by-Parts Operators with Minimal Dispersion Error for Accurate and Efficient Flow Calculations

54th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 2016