Mesh updating in fluid-structure interactions in biomechanics: an iterative method based on an uncoupled approach

In this study, a computational uncoupled approach to fluid-structure interaction problems in biofluid mechanics is presented. It is based on the finite element method and is applied to study the local fluid dynamics in two specific situations: the left ventricular ejection phase and the motion of an isolated red blood cell along a small artery. Particularly, the focus is on the algorithms developed to deal with mesh updating, because both examined districts are characterized by geometrical deformations of the fluid domain edges. This is currently a challenging issue in the application of computational fluid dynamics techniques to living systems, especially to the cardiovascular system. Although the chosen approach uses a commercial computational fluid dynamics package for the solution of the fluid domain, original algorithms have been developed to perform the boundary displacement calculations correctly, as well as the corresponding mesh updating. Results are reported and compared with available data in the literature pertinent to the two studied problems.