Computational Methods for Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulation of Heart Valves in Patient-Specific Left Heart Anatomies

Abstract

Given the complexity of human left heart anatomy and valvular structures, the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulation of native and prosthetic valves poses a significant challenge for numerical methods. In this review, recent numerical advancements for both fluid and structural solvers for heart valves in patient-specific left hearts are systematically considered, emphasizing the numerical treatments of blood flow and valve surfaces, which are the most critical aspects for accurate simulations. Numerical methods for hemodynamics are considered under both the continuum and discrete (particle) approaches. The numerical treatments for the structural dynamics of aortic/mitral valves and FSI coupling methods between the solid Ωs and fluid domain Ωf are also reviewed. Future work toward more advanced patient-specific simulations is also discussed, including the fusion of high-fidelity simulation within vivo measurements and physics-based digital twining based on data analytics and machine learning techniques.