Physical properties of Korean normal aortic valves based on fluid–structure interactions

Recently, numerical methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD), have been widely used in heart valve research. The CFD approach has fewer restrictions compared to clinical and experimental methods as it involves interpretations through computer calculations, and it can be used to predict and analyze fluids. For valve numerical analysis using CFD, the mechanical properties of the valve must be defined based on the physical properties. However, most of the existing heart valve numerical analysis studies have been conducted for westerners, and only a few studies on the same topic have focused on Asians. Thus, in this paper, we aim to determine the physical property parameters suitable for defining the mechanical properties of the normal aortic valves of Koreans over time. In this study, we used a fluid−structure interaction technique for the valve simulation and applied three representative valve characteristics presented in previous aortic valve simulation studies. Herein, the valve patency rates in case of simulation and multidetector computed tomography images were compared and analyzed through statistical techniques. Our results revealed that the physical properties, such as density (1050 kg/m3), Young’s modulus (2 MPa), and Poisson’s ratio (0.3), are like those of the Korean aortic valve over time. If hemodynamic evaluation of the Korean aortic valve is performed through simulation using these conditions, it can be effective in identifying the factors of heart valve disease.