Measurement of flow separation in a human vocal folds model

0360761 - ÚT 2012 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Šidlof, Petr - Doaré, O. - Cadot, O. - Chaigne, A.
Measurement of flow separation in a human vocal folds model.
Experiments in Fluids. Roč. 51, č. 1 (2011), s. 123-136. ISSN 0723-4864. E-ISSN 1432-1114
R&D Projects: GA AV ČR KJB200760801
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z20760514
Keywords : vocal folds * flow separation * physical model
Subject RIV: BI - Acoustics
Impact factor: 1.735, year: 2011
http://www.springerlink.com/content/t81114611760jp23/

The paper provides experimental data on flow separation from a model of the human vocal folds. Data were measured on a four times scaled physical model, where one vocal fold was fixed and the other oscillated due to fluid–structure interaction. The vocal folds were fabricated from silicone rubber and placed on elastic support in the wall of a transparent wind tunnel. A PIV system was used to visualize the flow fields immediately downstream of the glottis and to measure the velocity fields. From the visualizations, the position of the flow separation point was evaluated using a semiautomatic procedure and plotted for different airflow velocities. The separation point position was quantified relative to the orifice width separately for the left and right vocal folds to account for flow asymmetry. The results indicate that the flow separation point remains close to the narrowest cross-section during most ofthe vocal fold vibration cycle, but moves significantly further downstream shortly prior to and after glottal closure.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0198234