arXiv subjects

Sean D. Peterson

Publications and source records attributed to Sean D. Peterson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A beam--membrane biomechanical vocal fold model incorporating posturing and glottal conformation

The posture of the vocal folds produced by laryngeal muscle activation plays a central role in determining the dynamics of voice production. Abnormal vocal fold configurations are frequently associated with inefficient phonation and a variety of voice disorders. Although diverse glottal closure patterns have been observed clinically, the biomechanical mechanisms governing their dynamic behavior and resulting phonatory characteristics remain incompletely understood. Moreover, existing numerical models that incorporate the effects of the intrinsic musculature on posturing and glottal conformation are computationally expensive, which limits their suitability for large-scale parametric investigations. In this work, we introduce a computationally inexpensive vocal fold (VF) model wherein the body and cover VF layers are treated as a composite beam and a coupled membrane, respectively. Intrinsic laryngeal muscle activation, in addition to positioning the arytenoid cartilages and cricothyroid joint, introduces moments at the boundaries of the structure that influence glottal conformation. The model produces phonatory characteristics that are qualitatively consistent with those reported in high-fidelity finite-element models and clinical studies, thereby supporting its predictive capability while offering substantial computational advantage. The proposed framework provides biomechanical insights into the influence of incomplete glottal closure on phonation dynamics and may serve as a computationally tractable tool for investigating mechanisms underlying certain voice disorders.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2023

An Euler-Bernoulli-Type Beam Model of the Vocal Folds for Describing Curved and Incomplete Glottal Closure Patterns

Incomplete glottal closure is a laryngeal configuration wherein the glottis is not fully obstructed prior to phonation. In this work, we introduce an Euler-Bernoulli composite beam vocal fold (VF) model that produces qualitatively similar incomplete glottal closure patterns as those observed in experimental and high-fidelity numerical studies, thus offering insights in to the potential underlying physical mechanisms. Refined physiological insights are pursued by incorporating the beam model into a VF posturing model that embeds the five intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Analysis of the combined model shows that co-activating the lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA) and interarytenoid (IA) muscles without activating the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle results in a bowed (convex) VF geometry with closure at the posterior margin only; this is primarily attributed to the reactive moments at the anterior VF margin. This bowed pattern can also arise during VF compression (due to extrinsic laryngeal muscle activation for example), wherein the internal moment induced passively by the TA muscle tissue is the predominant mechanism. On the other hand, activating the TA muscle without incorporating other adductory muscles results in anterior and mid-membranous glottal closure, a concave VF geometry, and a posterior glottal opening driven by internal moments induced by TA muscle activation. In the case of initial full glottal closure, the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle activation cancels the adductory effects of the LCA and IA muscles, resulting in a concave VF geometry and posterior glottal opening. Furthermore, certain maneuvers involving co-activation of all adductory muscles result in an hourglass glottal shape due to a reactive moment at the anterior VF margin and moderate internal moment induced by TA muscle activation.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2023

Euler-Bernoulli beams with contact forces: existence, uniqueness, and numerical solutions

In this paper, we investigate the Euler-Bernoulli fourth-order boundary value problem (BVP) $w^{(4)}=f(x,w)$, $x\in \intcc{a,b}$, with specified values of $w$ and $w''$ at the end points, where the behaviour of the right-hand side $f$ is motivated by biomechanical, electromechanical, and structural applications incorporating contact forces. In particular, we consider the case when $f$ is bounded above and monotonically decreasing with respect to its second argument. First, we prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the BVP. We then study numerical solutions to the BVP, where we resort to spatial discretization by means of finite difference. Similar to the original continuous-space problem, the discrete problem always possesses a unique solution. In the case of a piecewise linear instance of $f$, the discrete problem is an example of the absolute value equation. We show that solutions to this absolute value equation can be obtained by means of fixed-point iterations, and that solutions to the absolute value equation converge to solutions of the continuous BVP. We also illustrate the performance of the fixed-point iterations through a numerical example.

math.NA↗

arXiv2021

Triangular body-cover model of the vocal folds with coordinated activation of the five intrinsic laryngeal muscles

Poor laryngeal muscle coordination that results in abnormal glottal posturing is believed to be a primary etiologic factor in common voice disorders such as non-phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction. Abnormal activity of antagonistic laryngeal muscles is hypothesized to play a key role in the alteration of normal vocal fold biomechanics that results in the dysphonia associated with such disorders. Current low-order models of the vocal folds are unsatisfactory to test this hypothesis since they do not capture the co-contraction of antagonist laryngeal muscle pairs. To address this limitation, a self-sustained triangular body-cover model with full intrinsic muscle control is introduced. The proposed scheme shows good agreement with prior studies using finite element models, excised larynges, and clinical studies in sustained and time-varying vocal gestures. Simulations of vocal fold posturing obtained with distinct antagonistic muscle activation yield clear differences in kinematic, aerodynamic and acoustic measures. The proposed tool is deemed sufficiently accurate and flexible for future comprehensive investigations of non-phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction and other laryngeal motor control disorders.

physics.med-ph↗