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Updated: May 7, 2026
10:16
Synthetic, Multi-Layer, Self-Oscillating Vocal Fold Model Fabrication
Published on: December 2, 2011
AERODYNAMIC SOUND OF A BODY IN ARBITRARY, DEFORMABLE MOTION, WITH APPLICATION TO PHONATION.
1Boston University, College of Engineering, 110 Cummington Mall, Boston MA 02215.
Journal of Sound and Vibration
|September 14, 2013
Summary
The mucosal wave
Area of Science:
- Aeroacoustics
- Biomechanics of speech production
Background:
- Vocal fold vibration is crucial for voiced speech.
- The mucosal wave's role in sustaining airflow modulation in the glottis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the contribution of the mucosal wave to self-sustained airflow modulation in the glottis.
- To investigate the mechanism maintaining vocal fold vibration during voiced speech.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the tailored Green's functions method for aeroacoustic analysis.
- Performed limit cycle calculations using experimental data from an excised canine hemilarynx.
Main Results:
- Flow separation at the glottis minimum cross-sectional area, driven by the mucosal wave peak, governs aerodynamic forces.
- Asymmetric motion of the mucosal wave peak during glottis opening/closing ensures correct phasing for oscillation.
- The mechanism robustly sustains vocal fold oscillations across various voicing conditions.
Conclusions:
- The mucosal wave plays a critical role in self-sustained vocal fold vibration.
- The described mechanism provides a robust explanation for voiced speech production.
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