Investigation on the effect of stenosis in respiratory airflow in human airway by particle image velocimetry

Abstract

Using the Particle Image Velocimetry experimental method, the airflow from both left and right bronchus of human trachea was observed and analyzed. In this study, the accurate models using the actual geometry of the human trachea were created and scaled to 1.3 compared to the original size in order to visualize the flow at both branches. Models consist of healthy and stenosis models where most of the major shape and geometry were preserved to evaluate the effect from the stenosis to the inlet and along the branches. Three different flow rates at the main trachea inlet were used in order to represent three different activities of human breathing. A flow passage includes the main trachea and both left and right bronchus. As for the results, it show that stenosis did affect the normal breathing condition and disturb the flow distribution along the branches.