Numerical Analysis and Parametric Study of the Sulcus Vocalis Disorder on the Function of the Vocal Folds‎

In terms of mechanical behavior, human’s speaking and generating voice is a sophisticated process which is resulted in interaction between flowing air through the larynx and oscillating functionality of vocal folds. The sulcus vocalis is one of the individual cases of scarring in which the superficial lamina propria is absent over the length of the vocal fold and can procreate several disorders in voice generation. In this study, for the first time, the effects of sulcus vocalis on vibrating functionality of vocal folds have been assessed by employing finite element numerical modeling. Two-dimensional models of either healthy or sulcus vocal folds were implemented which each one is coupled and solved via LS-dyne software. Also, the three e-layer linear elastic model was utilized for the structure phase and the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE), incompressible continuity, and Navier- Stokes relations were used for the fluid domain. Type II patients’ self-excited oscillations have been exhibited and compared with the healthy model. The results of the healthy model were assessed and compared with numerical and experimental results of previous studies. Moreover, the influences of the sulcus not only on the flow components but also on the oscillating functionality of the vocal folds have been evaluated. The results indicated that the frequency of vocal folds’ vibrations and the value of volume flux tends to be remarkably declined and boosted up respectively.