A Reduced-Order Flow Model for Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulation of Vocal Fold Vibration

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Fluid Dynamics
• Acoustics

Background:

• Accurate voice production simulation requires modeling fluid-structure interaction (FSI) between airflow and vocal fold tissue.
• Existing reduced-order models often lack the precision needed for estimating unknown vocal fold tissue properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel reduced-order glottal airflow model for voice production simulations.
• To assess the model's performance against a benchmark 3D FSI simulation and existing Bernoulli-based models.

Main Methods:

• A one-dimensional (1D) momentum equation-based glottal airflow model was developed, incorporating entrance effects and energy loss.
• The model was coupled with a three-dimensional (3D) solid mechanics model of vocal fold tissue.
• Performance was evaluated using a 3D FSI simulation benchmark, comparing predictions of vibration frequency, amplitude, and phase delay.

Main Results:

• The novel momentum-based model demonstrated significantly superior performance compared to Bernoulli-based 1D flow models.
• Predictions of vocal fold vibration frequency, amplitude, and phase delay were more accurate with the new model.
• The model's robustness was confirmed across variations in vocal fold thickness, subglottal pressure, and tissue material properties.

Conclusions:

• The proposed reduced-order glottal airflow model offers a more accurate and robust approach for simulating voice production.
• This model has significant potential for applications in estimating vocal fold tissue properties in clinical settings.