Abstract
Heart valve flow analysis requires accurate representation of boundary layers near moving surfaces, even when the leaflets come into contact, and handling high geometric complexity. We address these challenges with a space-time (ST) method that integrates three ST methods in the framework of the ST-VMS method: the ST Slip Interface (ST-SI) and ST Topology Change (ST-TC) methods and ST Isogeometric Analysis (ST-IGA). The ST-VMS, as a moving-mesh method, maintains high-resolution boundary layer representation near solid surfaces. The ST-TC enables moving-mesh computation with TC, such as contact between the leaflets, maintaining high-resolution representation near the leaflets. The SI connects the mesh sectors containing the leaflets, enabling a more effective mesh moving. Integrating the ST-SI and ST-TC enables handling contact location change and contact and sliding on the SI. Integrationg the ST-IGA with the ST-SI and ST-TC increases flow solution accuracy while keeping the element density in narrow spaces near contact areas at a reasonable level. The computations are for a realistic aortic-valve with prescribed leaflet motion and show the accurate solution near the leaflets.
