SOLVING WAVE ACOUSTIC EQUATION USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD IN PAK SOLVER

Abstract

Wave acoustic equation is implemented and solved using finite element method in PAK solver to simulate propagation of sound waves, that cause oscillations of ear’s components, such as cochlea (part of inner ear). To simulate mechanical behaviour of cochlea, behaviour of fluid in chambers and behaviour of basilar membrane which separates them have been analysed as one coupled system, since pressure changes in fluid directly affect movement of membrane. Therefore, strong fluid-solid coupling has been applied in common nodes on common surfaces, in a way that change in fluid pressure, its gradient in direction normal to the contact plane is equalised to the acceleration of basilar membrane nodes in contact, also normal to the common contact plane. This manuscript provides an overview of derivation of acoustic wave equation and its implementation into in-house built PAK solver, together with steps performed in fluid-solid coupling in simulation of mechanical cochlea model, followed by analysis of obtained results.