Evaluation of Airflow Sensitivity to the Truncation Level of a Realistic Human Airway Model in an Accurate Numerical Simulation

BACKGROUND: The truncation level of human airways is an influential factor in the analysis of respiratory flow in numerical simulations. Due to computational limitations and limited resolution of diagnostic medical imaging equipment, a truncated geometry of airways is always investigated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to employ image-based geometries with zero generation and 5(th)-generation truncation levels and assess bronchial airways truncation’s effect on tracheal airflow characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this numerical study, computational fluid dynamics was employed to solve the respiratory flow in a realistic human airway model using the large eddy simulation technique coupling with the wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity (WALE) sub-grid scale model. The accuracy of numerical simulations was ensured by examining the large eddy simulation index of quality and Kolmogorov’s K(-5/3) law. RESULTS: The turbulent kinetic energy along the trachea has increased abnormally in the geometry with the zero-generation truncation level, and more severe fluctuations occurred in the velocity field of this geometry, which increased the tendency of each point to rotate. Compared to the extended model, the airflow’s more chaotic behavior prevented larger-scale vortices from forming in the geometry with the zero-generation truncation level. Larger-scale vortices in the extended model caused the primary flow passing next to the vortices to accelerate more intensely, increasing the wall shear stress peaks in this geometry. CONCLUSION: Eliminating the bronchial airways caused changes in tracheal airflow characteristics.