Abstract
Airflow in an avian respiratory system was simulated to study effects of the compliance of air sacs on the flow passing through parabronchi during a respiratorycycle.The geometry of the avian respiratory system was expressed three-dimensionally but simplified anatomically.The mechanical behavior of the air sacs was expressed by a lumped parameter model described with pressure,compliance and flow volume.The results demonstrated that the flow in the parabronchi was driven by the pressure difference over the parabronchi.The pressure difference over the parabronchi was affected by the air sac compliance.The flow in the parabronchi was unidirectional at certain compliances of the air sacs.These results address the importance of air sac compliances in efficient respiration in avian.
