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Comparative Study
. 2014 Jan;13(1):205-14.
doi: 10.1007/s10237-013-0496-x. Epub 2013 Apr 26.

Numerical investigation of airflow in an idealized human extra-thoracic airway: a comparison study

Jie Chen  1 , Ephraim Gutmark
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Numerical investigation of airflow in an idealized human extra-thoracic airway: a comparison study

Jie Chen et al. Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2014 Jan.

Abstract

Large eddy simulation (LES) technique is employed to numerically investigate the airflow through an idealized human extra-thoracic airway under different breathing conditions, 10, 30, and 120 l/min. The computational results are compared with single and cross hot-wire measurements, and with time-averaged flow field computed by standard [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]-SST Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models and the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). The LES results are also compared to root-mean-square (RMS) flow field computed by the Reynolds stress model (RSM) and LBM. LES generally gives better prediction of the time-averaged flow field than RANS models and LBM. LES also provides better estimation of the RMS flow field than both the RSM and the LBM.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(Color online) Time-averaged velocity magnitude contours on the mid-sagittal plane and the cross sections of the measurement stations, 30 l/min
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(Color online) Station 1: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, (d) Time-averaged velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the cross section, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS lateral velocity profiles, 10 l/min
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(Color online) Station 1: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 30 l/min; Station 1: (d) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 120 l/min
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
(Color online) Station 3: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, (d) Time-averaged velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the cross section, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS lateral velocity profiles, 10 l/min
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
(Color online) Station 3: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 30 l/min; (d) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 120 l/min
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
(Color online) Station 5: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, (d) Time-averaged velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the cross section, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS lateral velocity profiles, 10 l/min
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
(Color online) Station 5: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 30 l/min; (d) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 120 l/min
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
(Color online) Station 7: (a) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines of the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (b) Time-averaged and (c) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 10 l/min; (d) RMS velocity magnitude contours and streamlines in the time-averaged flow field on the mid-sagittal plane, (e) Time-averaged and (f) RMS streamwise velocity profiles, 30 l/min
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References

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