Finite Volume solution to high rate wave propagation through a lung alveoli stack

Abstract

This paper presents the work on a Finite Volume model representing wave propagation through the lung. One and two dimensional cases are used for the analysis and the results are validated against measured known values of stress wave propagation velocities. The results of the one dimensional model show that the known low wave propagation velocity has a strong dependence on the build up of energy within the alveoli cells especially at the initial stages of propagation. The results of the two dimensional model show the influence of the connecting tissue structure in the generation of over and underpressures at the tissue connecting junctions and also on the overall wave propagation velocity. © 2005 Springer.