Direct-numerical simulations of cardiac flows – what have we learnt?

In this talk, we will provide an overview of our group's endeavors in utilizing direct numerical simulations (DNSs) to analyze the functionality and dysfunctions observed in left ventricular flows. The Reynolds numbers of the flow in the left-ventricle are in the range of about 4000, which make them perfectly suitable for DNS based analysis. Our simulations have been carried out using our in-house sharp-interface immersed boundary solver, ViCar3D. The presentation will encompass the following investigations: (a) Examination of mixing and washout phenomena in both healthy and diseased ventricles, shedding light on their impact. (b) Exploration of the role played by intraventricular flows in the dissipation of viscous energy, uncovering their significance. (c) Evaluation of the potential influence of trabeculae on left ventricular hemodynamics, offering insights into their involvement. (d) Introduction of a novel metric developed to assess the risk of LV thrombosis in individuals with cardiac diseases, facilitating better risk management. (e) Study of the dynamics exhibited by both natural and bioprosthetic aortic valves, emphasizing their influence on aortic hemodynamics. Through this talk, we aim to highlight significant findings from our work and their implications for the advancement of cardiovascular health.