FINITE ELEMENT MODELING OF FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION - APPLIED TO COCHLEAR MECHANICS

Abstract

This paper describes software developed based on numerical implementation of algorithms for coupled acoustic – structure interaction. This class of problems implies coupling of the fluid domain, with sound wave propagation, and the domain of solid, which vibrates under the pressure caused by sound waves from the fluid domain. The physical behavior of the solid domain is described by using Newtonian dynamic equations. On the other hand, sound wave propagation through the fluid domain is described by using the acoustic wave equation. The coupling of differential equations for these two different domains is accomplished by equalizing the most dominant forces from the both domains: inertial forces from the solid domain and pressure gradients from the fluid domain. As a result of scientific research, we present numerical software developed based on mentioned equations. The details of the equations and their coupling are given in the Methods section. The spatial discretization of equations is done by using the finite element method. The software is tested on benchmark examples found in literature (Beranek et al. 1992; Kojic et al. 2010). Additionally, the application of software in modeling of the problems in the field of biomedical engineering applied to cochlear mechanics is shown.