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IS-DAAD-Forskerutveksl. Norge-Tyskland

Optimal shape design for cardiovascular flows

Awarded: NOK 70,619

Ruptured brain aneurysms account for 3-5% of all new strokes worldwide and are fatal in about 50% of cases. Analysis of cardiovascular diseases through the simulation of the blood flow has the potential to identify aneurysms (in particular intracranial aneurysms) of high rupture risk and to optimise treatments. A critical input of patient-specific blood flow simulations is the geometry of the patient’s aneurysm and surrounding blood vessels. Today this segmentation is typically performed semi-automatically from imaging data, using the experience of the researcher at task. However, a recent study asked 26 research groups to perform segmentations and hemodynamic simulations to identify the ruptured aneurysm in a patient. The results showed clear differences exist with respect to the analysis of aneurysm shape and blood flow results from the different research groups, highlighting the limitations of a semi-automatic geometry reconstruction. In this project, we advocate an automatic segmentation approach for blood vessel segmentation that incorporates physical constraints already during the segmentation process. From a mathematical point of view this results in a shape optimization problem with the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equation on polygonal-type domains with mixed-boundary conditions in two space dimensions. The project addresses two challenges: 1) theory and 2) algorithm development of shape optimization problems with fluid structure interaction. To achieve this, fundamental research with respect to (possibly automatic) derivation of tube derivatives via a domain mapping approach will be conducted. We will also address appropriate shape priors in this setting of a dynamic domain. The theoretical and numerical results will deepen the knowledge shape optimization of fluid structure interaction and make contribution to cardiovascular flow modelling.

Funding scheme:

IS-DAAD-Forskerutveksl. Norge-Tyskland