The current computational effort will focus on the numerical analysis of current tiling disk MHVs. In this work an implicit fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) simulation of the Bjork-Shiley design was carried out using in-house codes implemented in the commercial code software FLUENT™. In-house codes in the form of journal files, schemes, and user-defined functions (UDFs) were integrated to automate the inner iterations and enable communication between the fluid and the moving disk at the interfaces. Based on the investigations of the current simulations, a new design aiming at improving the hemodynamic performance is suggested. Hemodynamics of the flow in current tilting-disk valves is compared with the suggested design and it is concluded that the suggested design has a better hemodynamic performance in terms of shear stress values and residence times.

In this study a fully coupled implicit fluid-structure-interaction (FSI) scheme has been utilized to investigate the existing tilting-disk mechanical heart valve (MHV) and a proposed design to increase flow quality. Vortex shedding, areas of recirculation with high shear, and high deformation rates are common in the current designs of tilting-disk MHVs, which contribute to the thrombogenicity of these devices. Based on the results of current FSI simulation of the tilting-disk MHV, a new design has been suggested, and comparison of the flow-fields and features important in clot formation are promising. In the proposed design, a number of gaps are inserted on the disk. These gaps are initially closed and subsequently open as the valve rotates toward its fully open position. The gaps stay open during the forward flow and only begin retracting when the leaflet starts moving back to its fully closed position. Inspection of the results reveals that the flow passing through the gaps washes the wakes away from the leaflet as intended and minimizes the separation region. Nomenclature = Angle of rotation with respect to the vertical t = Time M = Moment I = Moment of inertia = Epsilon = Angular acceleration = Shear stress = Viscosity = X component of velocity v = Y component of velocity