Numerical simulation of an idealized bronchial tree

Abstract: In spite of a number of studies with high-fidelity numerical simulations in the past, computational fluid dynamics of the human airways is nowadays mostly employed as a tool by bioengineers, typically to estimate particle deposition for inhalation therapy or hazard assessment, rather than for fundamental research. Significant progresses in recent years in our understanding of pulmonary mechanics have not been followed, so far, by an advancement in numerical simulations of the airflow through this crucial organ, despite its relevance for its vital functions. In this presentation, I present a preliminary study including the first direct numerical simulation of an idealized bronchial tree including 23 successive bifurcations, which allows to capture the entire range of physiological Reynolds number in the lungs. The results illustrate the potential limitation of standard turbulence models to describe the development of the flow moving from central to peripheral airways and highlight the necessity of a closer integration between CFD and mechanistic model of the lungs.

Bio: I obtained my BC and MC degrees in physics at the University of Genoa, where I began to work on fluid dynamics with Jan Pralits. I moved to KTH for my doctorate, under the supervision of Philipp Schlatter and Ricardo Vinuesa and defended my PhD thesis on coherent structures and control in wall-bounded turbulent flows in 2021. I then obtained a post-doctoral position at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz (Austria), with Stefan Pirker, where I worked on reduced-order models of particle-laden flows with strong coupling. Since 2023, I have been a researcher at DAER, the department of aerospace science and technology of the Politecnico di Milano, where I work with Maurizio Quadrio at high-fidelity simulations of the respiratory system.