The fluid dynamics of air flow in the pharynx is critical to the vibration of the uvula and to the generation of the snoring sound. In this work, a combined experimental and computational approach was conducted to study the aerodynamics of the flow field in the human airway. An anatomically accurate pharynx model associated with different uvula kinematics was reconstructed from human magnetic resonance images (MRI) and high-speed photography. An immersed-boundary-method (IBM)-based direct numerical simulation (DNS) flow solver was used to simulate the corresponding unsteady flows in all their complexity. Analysis has been performed on vortex dynamics and pressure oscillation at various points of interest. Computations with varying airway obstructions, uvula kinematics, and vibrating frequencies were conducted to study the effect of the three factors on the vortex formation and pressure oscillation, respectively. It is found that the vortex formation is significantly affected by the airway width. The fast Fourier transformation (FFT) analysis of the pressure time history revealed the existence of higher order harmonics of the base frequency at significant amplitudes. It was also found that the pressure tended to oscillate more violently at higher uvula vibrating frequencies. Results from this work are expected to bring novel understanding on the sound producing in patients with sleep apnea and provide guidance for surgical interventions.
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ASME 2018 5th Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting
July 15–20, 2018
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Conference Sponsors:
- Fluids Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5155-5
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Computational Analysis on Aerodynamics and Vortex Formation of Sleep Apnea Available to Purchase
Junshi Wang,
Junshi Wang
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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Pan Han,
Pan Han
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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Yaselly Sanchez,
Yaselly Sanchez
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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Jinxiang Xi,
Jinxiang Xi
California Baptist University, Riverside, CA
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Haibo Dong
Haibo Dong
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
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Junshi Wang
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Pan Han
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Yaselly Sanchez
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Jinxiang Xi
California Baptist University, Riverside, CA
Haibo Dong
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Paper No:
FEDSM2018-83257, V001T02A003; 8 pages
Published Online:
October 24, 2018
Citation
Wang, J, Han, P, Sanchez, Y, Xi, J, & Dong, H. "Computational Analysis on Aerodynamics and Vortex Formation of Sleep Apnea." Proceedings of the ASME 2018 5th Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting. Volume 1: Flow Manipulation and Active Control; Bio-Inspired Fluid Mechanics; Boundary Layer and High-Speed Flows; Fluids Engineering Education; Transport Phenomena in Energy Conversion and Mixing; Turbulent Flows; Vortex Dynamics; DNS/LES and Hybrid RANS/LES Methods; Fluid Structure Interaction; Fluid Dynamics of Wind Energy; Bubble, Droplet, and Aerosol Dynamics. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. July 15–20, 2018. V001T02A003. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FEDSM2018-83257
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