Flow physics of normal and abnormal bioprosthtetic aortic valves

Flow physics of transvalvular flows in the aorta with bioprosthetic valves is investigated using computational modeling. For the efficient simulations of flow-structure-interaction in transvalvular flows, a simplified, reduced degree-of-freedom valve model is employed with a sharp-interface immersed boundary based incompressible flow solver. Simulations are performed for normal valves as well as valves with reduced leaflet motion that models the effect of early leaflet thrombosis. The structure of the aortic jet and the hemodynamic stresses on the aortic wall are analysed to understand the hemodynamic impacts and possible long-term clinical implications of sub-clinical reduced leaflet motion.