NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF BLOOD FLOW THROUGH LEFT VENTRICLE USING SPH AND FVM METHODS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of numerical simulations of blood flow through the left ventricle using SPH (LS-DYNA) and FVM (Ansys Fluent) solvers. Numerical simulations based on SPH and FVM methods can provide a more comprehensive understanding of cardiac blood flow patterns. In Fluent, left ventricle walls were modeled as boundary conditions with zero fluid velocity, while in the LS-DYNA software the walls were modeled with fixed particles. Boundary conditions were also prescribed on the appropriate regions (inlet, outlet, symmetry). In both programmes, inlet and outlet velocities were defined using table functions corresponding to the real cardiac cycle. For generating fluid flow in SPH, injection particles at mitral valve and deactivation planes at aortic semilunar valve were used. Numerical analysis results are given comparatively in both cases at the corresponding times. By comparing the results, it can be concluded that SPH can be efficiently used for the analysis of blood flow through the left ventricle. Although the modeling procedure, as well as the calculation itself, takes much longer to execute using SPH, this method offers possibilities such as studying FSI phenomena or tracking the movement of particles through the fluid domain.