A contribution to simulating a three-dimensional larynx model using the finite element method

A three-dimensional model is presented to simulate the larynx during vocalization. The finite element method is used to calculate the airflow velocity and pressure along the larynx as well as tissue displacement. It is assumed that the larynx tissue is transversely isotropic and divided into three tissues: cover, ligament, and body. A contact-impact algorithm is incorporated to deal with the physics of the collision between both true vocal folds. The results show that the simulated larynx can reproduce the vertical and horizontal phase difference in the tissue movements and that the false vocal folds affect the pressure distribution over the larynx surfaces. The effects of exciting the larynx with different pressure drops are also investigated.