Multi-block and overset-block domain decomposition techniques for cardiovascular flow simulation

Because altered blood flow patterns or pathways cause most pathological conditions within the cardiovascular system, detailed understanding the fluid dynamics of blood flow is of considerable importance to understanding and improving prevention and treatment of pathological conditions of the cardiovascular system. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), or the numerical simulation of fluid flow, can offer very detailed flow information. However, many factors including discretization of complex flow domains and fluid-structure interaction modeling complicate the simulation process. The present thesis examines the potential of multi-block and overset-block domain decomposition strategies in alleviating these difficulties. CFD methods and software have been developed and validated for steady and time-dependent flow problems. The methods developed in conjunction with this work were also applied to study flow efficiency and blood flow distribution in the total cavopulmonary connection, a specific type of pediatric heart bypass operation, and flow patterns developed within bileaflet mechanical aortic valve prostheses.