Finite element modeling of the vocal folds with deformable interface tracking

Continuous and prolonged use of the sp eaking voice may lead to functional sp eech disorders that are not apparent for voice clinicians from high-sp eed imaging of the vo cal folds' vibration. However, it is hyp othesized that time dep endent tissue prop erties provide some insight into the injury pro cess.

To infer material parameters via an inverse optimization problem from recorded deformation, a self sustained theoretical mo del of the vo cal folds is needed. With this purp ose, a transversely isotropic three-dimensional nite element mo del is prop osed and investigated. Sp ecial attention is paid to the collision and time integration schemes.

Accuracy in the deformation pro cess is intro duced by means of a top ology-adaptive metho d for deformable interface tracking, called the Deformable Sim- plicial Complex, which has b een previously applied to immiscible uids. For computational reasons, aero dynamic driving forces are derived from Bernoulli's principle