ABSTRACT
This paper presents a numerical approach to analyze the influence of SARS-CoV-2 deposition on human lung dynamics under real conditions. A comparison is made between a healthy and a diseased lung. A multiphase three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study is performed for the dispersion of covid-19 virus particles throughout the alveolar tree. Then, fully coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) is used to evaluate the expansion properties of the alveolar wall. The mesh morphing technique with solid displacement characteristics is used to obtain a realistic wall displacement during the inspiratory and expiratory phases corresponding to the expansion and retraction of the alveolar sac, respectively. These phases are studied under steady-state conditions. The main objective of this study is to evaluate how particle deposition alters the displacement of alveoli exposed to a Sars-Cov-2 and to compare the obtained simulation results with the healthy case. The novelty of this analysis is that it examines where the virus is most deposited and how the presence of Sars-Cov-2 can affect the mechanical properties of the alveolar sac and worsen the respiratory capacity of a sick person at an advanced stage of infection. Copyright © 2022 by ASME.