3D fluid-structure interaction simulation of a bileaflet heart valve opening-closing cycle and comparison with experimental flow data

Abstract

A fully automated numerical procedure has been implemented to enable 3D modelling of the physical behaviour of blood flow through an implanted Mechanical Heart Valve (MHV). For this purpose, a specifically developed Valve Cycle Program was coupled with a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solver to implement a Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) model. A complete opening-closing cycle has been simulated by imposing physiological boundary conditions. A parallel laboratory circulatory mock-loop hosting a MHV has been manufactured to carry out experimental Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) flow measurements. The predicted flow characteristics were found to be in good agreement with experimental observations. Both numerical and experimental results confirmed that flow patterns and associated shear stresses downstream of the valve result in a low thrombosis and haemolysis potential.