Adaptive stabilized finite element framework for simulation of vocal fold turbulent fluid-structure interaction

Abstract

As a step toward building a more complete model of voice production mechanics, we assess the feasibility of a fluid-structure simulation of the vocal fold mechanics in the Unicorn incompressible Unified Continuum framework. The Unicorn framework consists of conservation equations for mass and momentum, a phase function selecting solid or fluid constitutive laws, a convection equation for the phase function and moving mesh methods for tracking the interface, and discretization through an adaptive stabilized finite element method. The framework has been validated for turbulent flow for both low and high Reynolds numbers and has the following features: implicit turbulence modeling (turbulent dissipation only occurs through numerical stabilization), goal-oriented mesh adaptivity, strong, implicit fluid-structure coupling and good scaling on massively parallel computers. We have applied the framework for turbulent fluid-structure interaction simulation of vocal folds, and present initial results. Acoustic quantities have been extracted from the framework in the setting of an investigation of a configuration approximating an exhaust system with turbulent flow around a flexible triangular steel plate in a circular duct. We present some results of the investigation as well as results of the framework applied to other problems. © 2013 Acoustical Society of America.