SORS: An integrated multiphysics approach to modeling and simulating the heart

We present an integrated computational framework for the simula- tion of the cardiac function. The framework comprises models for cardiac elec- trophysiology, myocardial contraction and deformation, fluid dynamics, valve kinematics and the circulatory system. These subsystems are coupled together in a modular fashion, allowing to adjust the complexity of the model depending on the needs of the application. We include relevant sources of feedback be- tween the subsystems, including fluid-structure interaction, electromechanical and mechano-electrical feedback, and the feedbacks between muscle deformation and active tension. The complexity of the system calls for dedicated numerical strategies, especially to tackle its multiscale nature. To this end, we discuss a temporal segregated-staggered time discretization method and intergrid transfer operators that allow to address the specific discretization requirements of each subsystem. The framework is implemented in the C++ lifex library, providing a user-friendly, extensible and scalable cardiac simulation environment. This talk will briefly present the library’s features and capabilities, in light of its use for high-performance computing and large-scale simulations. Finally, numeri- cal examples with different model configurations demonstrate the ability of the proposed framework to simulate the cardiac function with high physical fidelity.