Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
13:07
Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
An open-source computational framework for immersed fluid-structure interaction modeling using FEBio and MFEM
Ryan T Black1,2, Steve A Maas3,4, Wensi Wu1,5,6
1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA.
Engineering with Computers
|August 8, 2026
Summary
A new open-source immersed fluid-structure interaction (FSI) framework combines MFEM and FEBio for complex biomechanical simulations, like heart valves. This high-performance computing platform addresses challenges in modeling large deformations and contact mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Computational mechanics
- Biomechanics
- High-performance computing
Background:
- Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations of biological systems, especially those with large deformations and contact (e.g., heart valves), pose significant computational challenges.
- Traditional methods struggle with mesh distortion, necessitating immersed techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel open-source immersed FSI framework.
- To couple MFEM and FEBio for advanced biomechanical simulations.
- To address the need for robust, high-performance FSI software in computational biology.
Main Methods:
- Coupling of MFEM (GPU-ready, scalable fluid solver) and FEBio (nonlinear solid mechanics solver for biomechanics).
- FSI coupling via fictitious domain/distributed Lagrange multiplier with variational multiscale stabilization.
- A fully implicit, monolithic scheme for strongly coupled interactions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated capabilities through various test problems, including a 3D semilunar heart valve simulation.
- Achieved enhanced accuracy on under-resolved grids using unfitted meshes.
- Provided robust coupling for cardiovascular applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed framework offers a powerful, open-source solution for immersed FSI in biomechanics.
- It synergistically leverages high-performance computing and advanced solid mechanics models.
- Facilitates straightforward extension to additional physics and element technologies.
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