MS5: HPC Biomechanics and New Challenges
Cristóbal Samaniego, Beatriz Eguzkitza, Silvia Ceccacci, and Hadrien Calmet
Abstract
Thanks to the utilization of massive computational resources, nearly all aspects of unsteady flow dynamics within the human body can now be accurately resolved. Numerical simulations have advanced to the point where they can effectively capture both spatial and temporal scales of airflow and blood circulation. HPC biomechanics encompasses a broad spectrum, ranging from the respiratory system to the cardiovascular system.
The multi-physics capabilities of supercomputers enable simulations that incorporate fluid-electro-mechanical coupling, such as modeling the interaction between a beating heart and arterial blood flow. These precise computational tools offer fresh perspectives and countless potential applications. It is evident that such methods represent the future of medical diagnosis and treatment processes.
In particular, the application of nasal/oral drug delivery holds significant importance in the respiratory system, presenting new challenges such as modeling the mucosa layer and simulating fluid-structure interaction within the nasal cavity. Additionally, given the previous impact of COVID-19 on public health, accurately understanding and modeling the propagation of human biological aerosols has become crucial.
Cristóbal Samaniego - Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS)
Cristóbal Samaniego received his PhD in Computer Architecture from the Department of Computer Architecture at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, in 2015. He earned his master's degree in Numerical Methods for Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana de Cuenca, Ecuador, in 2009, and his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador, in 2005. Currently, he is a researcher in the Computer Applications in Science & Engineering department at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. He also teaches at the Universitat Ramon Llull-La Salle, Barcelona, and the Universidad del Azuay, Ecuador. He has published nearly twenty scientific research papers and actively participates in various research projects. His research interests include computational mechanics, particularly fluid-body interaction, the design of parallel algorithms for distributed memory computers, and high-performance computing.
Beatriz Eguzkitza - Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS)
Beatriz Eguzkitza received her undergraduate degree in Physics from the Universitat de Barcelona. She pursued a master's degree in Renewable Energies Engineering and Management at the Institut Català de Tecnologia and obtained a PhD in Computer Architecture (with a focus on Numerical Methods) from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). Since 2014, she has been a postdoctoral researcher at BSC, focusing on data-driven techniques for complex problems solved on supercomputers. Her work primarily revolves around fluid mechanics in the respiratory system, where she studies topics such as Lagrangian particle transport for inhalers and nebulisers, particle deposition maps, nasal valve interaction, coupling 3D-1D, and mucus layers. Since 2017, she has been involved as a researcher in four projects with companies in the biomedical sector and academic institutions. She serves as the principal investigator for a National Project titled “DREAMS: Particle Deposition Computational Model for Children's Airways with Mucus Surface”.
Silvia Ceccacci - Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS)
Silvia Ceccacci studied mathematics at the University of Bologna (IT). After completing her Bachelor's studies, she joined Professor A. Valli at the University of Trento (IT) to focus on Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). She obtained her master’s degree in mathematics, specializing in biomedical applications and numerical analysis. Following three years of teaching mathematics in the UK, she pursued her PhD, where she studied the fluid dynamics problem of controlling boundary-layer separation using surface roughness. This was modeled in terms of Robin-type boundary conditions. In March 2023, she was offered a postdoctoral position at BSC, where she currently develops mathematical and computational models for HPC-based respiratory system simulations.
Hadrien Calmet - Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS)
Dr. Hadrien Calmet has been a senior researcher in bioengineering (CFD & HPC) at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center since 2006 and an associate professor at Pompeu Fabra University since 2023. He received a master’s degree in Numerical Methods, Computing, and Engineering Design from the International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE) in Barcelona, and a master’s degree in Applied Physics and a Ph.D. degree in Numerical Physics from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. He conducted research stays at Imperial College in London (UK), Gifu College in Japan, and NUS in Singapore. Dr. Calmet has co-authored more than 20 papers, including publications in international journals and top conferences on bioengineering and biomechanics. His primary research interests revolve around applications related to the human respiratory system, including studies on inhalation and exhalation, as well as nasal spray applications.
