Committee Chair

Sreenivas, Kidambi

Committee Member

Newman, James C. III; Arabshahi, Abdollah

Department

Dept. of Computational Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

This study compares the effect of extra-thoracic airways (ETA) on the flow field through the lower airways by carrying out simulations of the airflow through the human respiratory tract. Three geometries, consisting of the ETA, CT-derived lower airway, and a combination of the two were utilized in simulations that were performed for transient breathing in addition to constant inspiration/expiration. Physiologically-appropriate regional ventilation for two different flow rates was induced at the distal boundaries by imposing appropriate lobar specific flow rates. Two breathing rates were considered, i.e., 7.5 and 15 breaths per minute with a tidal volume of 0.5 liter. For comparison, the flow rates for constant inspiration/expiration were selected to be identical to the peak flow rates during the transient breathing. Significant differences indicate that simulations that utilize constant inspiration or expiration may not be appropriate for gaining insight into the flow patterns through the human airways.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I truly appreciate my major advisor, Dr. Kidambi Sreenivas for his advice, guidance throughout this research. I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Abi Arabshahi and Dr. James Newman III, for valuable discussions and their helps. Furthermore, I really thank Richard R. Gruetzemacher, III for sharing his vast knowledge in this research. Indeed, this thesis would not have been possible without the support and assistance of him.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

8-2016

Subject

Computational fluid dynamics; Respiration; Human physiology; Biomedical engineering

Keyword

Human airways; CFD; Inspiration; Expiration; Transient breathing

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xvi, 94 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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