Computational analysis of obstructive disease and cough intensity effects on the mucus transport and clearance in an idealized upper airway model using the volume of fluid method

This study provides a quantitative analysis to investigate the effects of cough intensity and initial mucus thickness on transport clearance in mouth-to-trachea airway geometry using an experimentally validated Volume Fluid (VOF) based multiphase model. In addition, accuracy simplifying as Newtonian fluid is also quantified by comparisons efficiencies with simulations realistic shear-thinning non-Newtonian viscosities function shear rate. It proves that VOF model developed this can capture air–mucus interface evolution predict behaviors driven expiratory waveforms. Numerical results show noticeable differences be identified between simplified viscosity models, which indicates appropriate should applied when modeling avoid possible inaccuracy induced simplification. Furthermore, indicate intense enhance efficiency chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) upper airways. Additionally, although higher observed for severe COPD conditions thicker layer, there possibility accumulation obstruction such condition if not strong enough, will possibly cause further breathing difficulty. The refined integrated discrete phase models effect inhaled particles explicitly.