Date Available
12-7-2015
Year of Publication
2015
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Engineering
Department/School/Program
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Dr. Jonathan F. Wenk
Second Advisor
Dr. Keith Rouch
Abstract
The goal of this dissertation was to develop a realistic and patient-specific computational model of the heart that ultimately would help medical scientists to better diagnose and treat heart diseases. In order to achieve this goal, a three dimensional finite element model of the heart was created using magnetic resonance images of the beating pig heart. This model was loaded by the pressure of blood inside the left ventricle which was measured by synchronous catheterization. A recently developed structurally based constitutive model of the myocardium was incorporated in the finite element solver to model passive left ventricular myocardium. Additionally, an unloading algorithm originally designed for arteries was adapted to estimate the stress-free geometry of the heart from its partially-loaded geometry obtained from magnetic resonance imaging. Finally, a regionally varying growth module was added to the computational model to predict eccentric hypertrophy of the heart under various pathological conditions that result in volume overload of the heart. The computational model was validated using experimental data obtained from porcine heart such as in vivo strains measured from magnetic resonance imaging.
Recommended Citation
Nikou, Amir, "Computational Modeling of Cardiac Biomechanics" (2015). Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical Engineering. 69.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/me_etds/69
Included in
Biomaterials Commons, Biomechanical Engineering Commons, Biomechanics and Biotransport Commons, Computer-Aided Engineering and Design Commons
