In vitro-in silico correlation of three-dimensional turbulent flows in an idealized mouth-throat model

There exists an ongoing need to improve the validity and accuracy of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of turbulent airflows in the extra-thoracic and upper airways. Yet, a knowledge gap remains in providing experimentally-resolved 3D flow benchmarks with sufficient data density and completeness for useful comparison with widely-employed numerical schemes. Motivated by such shortcomings, the present work details to the best of our knowledge the first attempt to deliver in vitro-in silico correlations of 3D respiratory airflows in a generalized mouth-throat model and thereby assess the performance of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and Reynolds-Averaged Numerical Simulations (RANS). Numerical predictions are compared against 3D volumetric flow measurements using Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (TPIV) at three steady inhalation flowrates varying from shallow to deep inhalation conditions. We find that a RANS k-{omega} SST model adequately predicts velocity flow patterns for Reynolds numbers spanning 1500 to 7000, supporting results in close proximity to a more computationally-expensive LES model. Yet, RANS significantly underestimates turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), thus underlining the advantages of LES as a higher-order turbulence modeling scheme. In an effort to bridge future endevours across respiratory research disciplines, we provide end users with the present in vitro -in silico correlation data for improved predictive CFD models towards inhalation therapy and therapeutic or toxic dosimetry endpoints. Author SummaryThe dispersion and ensuing deposition of inhaled airborne particulate matter in the lungs are strongly influenced by the dynamics of turbulent respiratory airflows in the mouth-throat region during inhalation. To cirumvent costly in vitro experimental measurement resources, fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are widely sought to predict deposition outcomes but often lack detailed experimental data to first validate the three-dimensional (3D) flow structures anticipated to arise in the upper respiratory tract. In an effort to reconcile such data scarcity, we deliver experimental-numerical correlations of 3D respiratory airflows in an idealized 3D printed mouth-throat model against two widely-established numerical schemes with varying computational costs, namely coarse RANS and finer LES technique. Our time-resolved 3D flow data underline the complexity of these physiological inhalation flows, and discuss advantages and drawbacks of the different numerical techniques. With an outlook on future respiratory applications geared towards broad preclinical inhaled aerosol deposition studies, our open source data are made available for future benchmark comparisons for a broad range of end users in the respiratory research community.