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Abstract: This paper presents a gluing method for composite meshes. Different meshes are generated independently and are glued together using some extension elements to connect them. The resulting global mesh is non-conforming and consists of connected overlapping meshes. The method is inherently implicit, parallel and versatile, in the sense that it is PDE independent. The most cited gluing method is probably the Chimera method, used for overset grids, where patch meshes are superimposed onto a background mesh. The method employed here was originally devised for such situations and is now applied to disjoint or overlapping meshes. One of the advantages of the method is that the meshes do not have to coincide and can present a gap between them. The method is illustrated through some simple examples to demonstrate the mesh convergence and finally applied to the solution of the airflow in the complete respiratory system, by joining independent meshes for the large and small airways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents several parallelization aspects of Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) problems in computational mechanics when using an Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) scheme. The physical domain of the coupled problem is then solved on two different zones: a first zone for the fluid dynamics and the fluid mesh deformation and a second one for the solid mechanics. The idea can be further extended by adding more Physics to the coupled system, such as heat transport (for fluid and solid) or excitable media, among many others. In this paper, the basic two premises are that all problems can already be solved individually in parallel with good scalability and that the coupled system is solved in a coupled way within the same code. The paper introduces the formulation, presents some parallelization issues and proposes how to attack them, presents some results and discuss them and draws some future lines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Communities around the world are increasingly interested in nature-based solutions to the mitigation of coastal risks by coastal forests, but it remains unclear how much protective benefits vegetation provides, particularly in the limit of highly energetic flows after tsunami impact. The current study, using a three-dimensional incompressible computational fluid dynamics model with a fluid–structure interaction approach, aims to quantify how energy reflection and dissipation vary with different degrees of rigidity and vegetation density of a coastal forest. We represent tree trunks as cylinders and use the elastic modulus of hardwood trees such as pine or oak to characterize the rigidity of these cylinders. The numerical results show that energy reflection increases with rigidity only for a single cylinder. In the presence of multiple cylinders, the difference in energy reflection created by varying rigidity diminishes as the number of cylinders increases. Instead of rigidity, we find that the blockage area created by the presence of multiple tree trunks dominates energy reflection. As tree trunks are deformed by the hydrodynamic forces, they alter the flow field around them, causing turbulent kinetic energy generation in the wake region. As a consequence, trees dissipate flow energy, highlighting coastal forests reducing the onshore energy flux of tsunamis by means of both reflection and dissipation. • The number of tree trunks and the spacing between them are more important for tsunami-risk mitigation than the species-specific properties. • Deflection of tree trunks alters the flow field around them, causing turbulent kinetic energy generation in the wake region. • Coastal forests reduces the onshore energy flux of tsunamis by means of both reflection and dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nasal valve is the narrowest part of the nasal airway which is responsible for the largest part of the nasal resistance. Even little changes in the aperture can affect the flow downstream through the nose significantly. Its principal function is to limit airflow for example during a rapid and short inhalation, also called a sniff. Coupling Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) allows solving and exchanging force and displacement between the solid and fluid domains and offers a more accurate representation of the physical system in confined flow cases. Furthermore, particle transport and deposition are performed in this study to reveal the effect of the complex coupling on the nasal cavity deposition of inhaled aerosols. Two different configurations are used to model the nasal valve and differences in magnitudes in deformations are observed during the sniff. A comparison between FSI results and the in-vivo evaluation of the deformation shows an acceptable agreement as to the first step of validation. In addition, the results demonstrated that FSI increases significantly the particle deposition in the nasal cavity and the micro-particle diameter is the critical range parameter to enhance deposition with nasal valve deformation during a sniff. • The results demonstrated that FSI increases significantly the particle deposition in the nasal cavity. • The micro-particle diameter is the critical range parameter to enhance deposition with nasal valve deformation during a sniff. • The Comparison between FSI results and the in-vivo evaluation of the deformation shows an acceptable agreement as first step of validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on global health, understanding and accurately modelling the propagation of human biological aerosols has become crucial. Worldwide, health professionals have been one of the most affected demographics, representing approximately 20% of all cases in Spain, 10% in Italy and 4% in China and US. Methods to contain and remove potentially infected aerosols during Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) near source offer advantages in reducing the contamination of protective clothing and the surrounding theatre equipment and space. In this work we describe the application of computational fluid dynamics in assessing the performance of a prototype extraction hood as a means to contain a high speed aerosol jet. Whilst the particular prototype device is intended to be used during tracheotomies, which are increasingly common in the wake of COVID-19, the underlying physics can be adapted to design similar machines for other AGPs. Computational modelling aspect of this study was largely carried out by Barcelona Supercomputing Center using the high performance computational mechanics code Alya. Based on the high fidelity LES coupled with Lagrangian frameworks the results demonstrate high containment efficiency of generated particles is feasible with achievable air extraction rates. • Evaluation of a new device to reduce the risk of infection during Aerosol Generating Procedures for use in COVID-19 surgical tracheotomy. • High fidelity LES coupled with Lagrangian frameworks is used as results to demonstrate the efficiency. • Accurate numerical modelling of the propagation of human biological aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]