Annemie VAN HIRTUM, Xavier PELORSON
The human respiratory system is remarkable as it is life-essential and contributes to a myriad of daily life phenomena. Respiratory flow can be considered as moderate Reynolds number flow (about 1000). The physical study of these flow-induced phenomena requires understanding of not only ongoing flow phenomena, but also of the role of the flow in its interaction with the surrounding tissues as well as its contribution to aero-acoustic sound sources and the sound propagation. This results in a vast number of research topics, which are assessed using a combination of theoretical modelling, experiments and numerical simulation. Some examples of assessed research topics and applications are listed below.
Topics:
Modelling of laminar, transitional and turbulent flow through complex waveguides
Modelling of two-phase and inhomogeneous flow
Fluid-structure-acoustic interaction
Aero-acoustic sound sources
Sound propagation through complex waveguides and radiation
Noise and vibration
Some applications:
Modelling of human phonation under normal and pathological conditions
Modelling of human fricative speech sound production
Physical modelling and synthesis of speech
Pathologies (vocal folds structural abnormalities, coughing, obstructive sleep apnea,…)
