Finite-element-based computational methods for cardiovascular fluid-structure interaction

In this paper a combined arbitrary Lagrange-Euler fictitious domain (ALE-FD) method for fluidstructure interaction problems in cardiovascular biomechanics is derived in terms of a weighted residual finiteelement formulation. For both fluid flow of blood and solid mechanics of vascular tissue, the performance of tetrahedral and hexahedral Crouzeix-Raviart elements are evaluated. Comparable convergence results are found, although for the test cases considered the hexahedral elements are more accurate. The possibilities that are offered by the ALE-FD method are illustrated by means of a simulation of valve dynamics in a simplified left ventricular flow model.