About this Book
Most studies in computational fluid dynamics assume that the vessel walls are rigid. However, especially when studying the blood flow in large arteries, it is of particular importance to incorporate the elasticity of the vessel and its interaction with the fluid. The treatment of such fluid‐structure interaction problems is a real challenge. This ambitious PhD‐thesis presents an accurate and computationally efficient approach for modelling and simulating incompressible flow in distensible tubes and its interaction with the tube wall, with particular focus on applications in hemodynamics. The developed lattice Boltzmann method has been used as a competitive alternative approach to conventional numerical methods, using novel boundary conditions for wall displacement and stent handling. Simulations for constant outflow boundary conditions as well as for time‐dependent flows show the expected physical behaviour. The presented methodology offers a valuable tool: it is simple and computationally efficient while at the same time able to predict waveforms and pressure fields in arteries if necessary measurement data are available.
About the Author
Xenia Descovich studied Technical Mathematics at the Vienna University of Technology. She very quickly got into the field of Modelling and Simulation, where she put emphasis on modelling and simulation of flow and diffusion, finishing a master thesis on flow of blood with bravery. Her knowledge in this physical‐physiological area offered her a position as researcher at AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Health & Environment Department, Biomedical Systems, together with entering a Doctoral Programme at Vienna University of Technology. She completed her studies on lattice Boltzmann method on occasion of a research stay at Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, at Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo, all resulting in an exciting PhD thesis on blood flow modelling and simulation. Besides research, Xenia Descovich has been active in university teaching for a long time, starting as tutor for modelling and simulation, and giving e.g. now a lecture on modelling and simulation of the heart circulation system – teaching has become for her as important as research. Her favour for teaching and education led her to a career as editor for scientific and educational publication.
