Computational study of false vocal folds effects on unsteady airflows through static models of the human larynx (original) (raw)
Related papers
Journal of biomechanical engineering, 2013
The false vocal folds are hypothesized to affect the laryngeal flow during phonation. This hypothesis is tested both computationally and experimentally using rigid models of the human larynges. The computations are performed using an incompressible Navier-Stokes solver with a second order, sharp, immersed-boundary formulation, while the experiments are carried out in a wind tunnel with physiologic speeds and dimensions. The computational flow structures are compared with available glottal flow visualizations and are employed to study the vortex dynamics of the glottal flow. Furthermore, pressure data are collected on the surface of the laryngeal models experimentally and computationally. The investigation focuses on three geometric features: the size of the false vocal fold gap; the height between the true and false vocal folds; and the width of the laryngeal ventricle. It is shown that the false vocal fold gap has a significant effect on glottal flow aerodynamics, whereas the second and the third geometric parameters are of lesser importance. The link between pressure distribution on the surface of the larynx and false vocal fold geometry is discussed in the context of vortex evolution in the supraglottal region. It was found that the formation of the starting vortex considerably affects the pressure distribution on the surface of the larynx. The interaction of this vortex structure with false vocal folds creates rebound vortices in the laryngeal ventricle. In the cases of small false vocal fold gap, these rebound vortices are able to reach the true vocal folds during a time period comparable with one cycle of the phonation. Moreover, they can create complex vorticity patterns, which result in significant pressure fluctuations on the surface of the larynx.
Unsteady laryngeal airflow simulations of the intra-glottal vortical structures
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2010
The intra-glottal vortical structures developed in a static divergent glottis with continuous flow entering the glottis are characterized. Laryngeal airflow calculations are performed using the Large Eddy Simulation approach. It has been shown that intra-glottal vortices are formed on the divergent wall of the glottis, immediately downstream of the separation point. Even with non-pulsatile flow entering the glottis, the vortices are intermittently shed, producing unsteady flow at the glottal exit. The vortical structures are characterized by significant negative static pressure relative to the ambient pressure. These vortices increase in size and strength as they are convected downstream by the flow due to the entrained air from the supra-glottal region. The negative static pressures associated with the intra-glottal vortical structures suggest that the closing phase during phonation may be accelerated by such vortices. The intra-glottal negative pressures can affect both vocal fold vibration and voice production.
Aerodynamic study of three-dimensional larynx models using finite element methods
Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2008
The airflow velocities and pressures are calculated from a three-dimensional model of the human larynx by using the finite element method. The laryngeal airflow is assumed to be incompressible, isothermal, steady, and created by fixed pressure drops. The influence of different laryngeal profiles (convergent, parallel, and divergent), glottal area, and dimensions of false vocal folds in the airflow are investigated. The results indicate that vertical and horizontal phase differences in the laryngeal tissue movements are influenced by the nonlinear pressure distribution across the glottal channel, and the glottal entrance shape influences the air pressure distribution inside the glottis. Additionally, the false vocal folds increase the glottal duct pressure drop by creating a new constricted channel in the larynx, and alter the airflow vortexes formed after the true vocal folds. r
A numerical simulation of laryngeal flow in a forced-oscillation glottal model
Computer Speech & Language, 1996
A numerical simulation of laryngeal flow was developed to study flow patterns and pressure and velocity waveforms in a model of the oscillating glottis. The unsteady Navier-Stokes equations were solved with a finite volume method using a nonuniform staggered grid. The numerical method was tested against published experimental data. In this study of glottal aerodynamics, the vocal folds independently and sinusoidally were moved from a converging to a diverging and back to a converging shape, and the input airflow sinusoidally varied from zero to a maximum and back to zero. The typical results were obtained for a Reynolds number of 2000 and for an oscillation frequency of 100 Hz. Results indicate that with this simulation of the entire flow field, periodic velocity and pressure fields exist throughout the laryngeal duct. The airflow separates within the glottis, creating intraglottal (and downstream) asymmetric flow throughout the glottal cycle, with formation of eddies downstream of the glottis. The observed maximum velocity delays due to the glottal wall movement would contribute to the well-known glottal volume velocity skewing during phonation.
Computational aeroacoustics of phonation, Part II: Effects of flow parameters and ventricular folds
Journal of The Acoustical Society of America, 2002
The aerodynamic generation of sound during phonation was studied using direct numerical simulations of the airflow and the sound field in a rigid pipe with a modulated orifice. Forced oscillations with an imposed wall motion were considered, neglecting fluid-structure interactions. The compressible, two-dimensional, axisymmetric form of the Navier-Stokes equations were numerically integrated using highly accurate finite difference methods. A moving grid was used to model the effects of the moving walls. The geometry and flow conditions were selected to approximate the flow within an idealized human glottis and vocal tract during phonation. Direct simulations of the flow and farfield sound were performed for several wall motion programs, and flow conditions. An acoustic analogy based on the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation was then used to decompose the acoustic source into its monopole, dipole, and quadrupole contributions for analysis. The predictions of the farfield acoustic pressure using the acoustic analogy were in excellent agreement with results from the direct numerical simulations. It was found that the dominant sound production mechanism was a dipole induced by the net force exerted by the surfaces of the glottis walls on the fluid along the direction of sound wave propagation. A monopole mechanism, specifically sound from the volume of fluid displaced by the wall motion, was found to be comparatively weak at the frequency considered ͑125 Hz͒. The orifice geometry was found to have only a weak influence on the amplitude of the radiated sound.
Communications in Computational Physics, 2012
In this paper the numerical method for solution of an aeroelastic model describing the interactions of air flow with vocal folds is described. The flow is modelled by the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations spatially discretized with the aid of the stabilized finite element method. The motion of the computational domain is treated with the aid of the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian method. The structure dynamics is replaced by a mechanically equivalent system with the two degrees of freedom governed by a system of ordinary differential equations and discretized in time with the aid of an implicit multistep method and strongly coupled with the flow model. The influence of inlet/outlet boundary conditions is studied and the numerical analysis is performed and compared to the related results from literature.
Numerical simulation of glottal flow
Computers in Biology and Medicine, 2013
In cases of permanent immobility of both vocal folds patients have difficulties with breathing but rarely with voicing. However, clinical experience shows that the shape of the larynx (voice box) seems to have a significant influence on the degree of airflow and breathing pattern. In order to find an optimal geometry of the larynx in terms of easiness for breathing after the surgical change of vocal folds or false vocal cords (ventricular folds), a set of numerical simulations of glottal flow for weakly compressible Navier-Stokes equations has been performed. We compare airflow resistance and volumetric flow rate for several geometry concepts for inspiration as well as expiration. Finally, we discuss the optimal geometry with respect to the quality of breathing.
Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation, 2015
The purpose of the study was to better understand the pressure-flow behavior of a self-oscillating vocal fold model at various stages of the glottal cycle. An established self-oscillating vocal fold model was extended to include the false vocal folds (FVFs) and was used to study time-dependent pressure and velocity distributions through the larynx (including the true vocal folds [TVFs] and FVFs). Vocal fold vibration was modeled with a finite element method, laryngeal flow was simulated with the solution of unsteady Navier-Stokes equations, and the acoustics of the vocal tract was modeled with a wave reflection method. The results demonstrate realistic phonatory behaviors and therefore may be considered as a pedagogical tool for showing detailed aerodynamic, kinematic, and acoustic characteristics. The TVFs self-oscillated regularly with reasonable amplitude and mucosal waves. There were large pressure gradients in the glottal region. The centerline velocity was highest during glott...
Experiments in Fluids, 2006
Pulsatile two-dimensional flow through asymmetric static divergent models of the human vocal folds is investigated. Included glottal divergence angles are varied between 10°and 30°, with asymmetry angles between the vocal fold pairs ranging from 5°to 15°. The model glottal configurations represent asymmetries that arise during a phonatory cycle due to voice disorders. The flow is scaled to physiological values of Reynolds, Strouhal, and Euler numbers. Data are acquired in the anterior-posterior mid-plane of the vocal fold models using phase-averaged Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) acquired at ten discrete locations in a phonatory cycle. Glottal jet stability arising from the vocal fold asymmetries is investigated and compared to previously reported work for symmetric vocal fold passages. Jet stability is enhanced with an increase in the included divergence angle, and the glottal asymmetry. Concurrently, the bi-modal jet trajectory and flow unsteadiness diminishes. Consistent with previous findings, the flow attachment due to the Coanda effect occurs when the acceleration of the forcing function is zero.