Analisys of biofilms by using fluid-structure simulations

Abstract

Consulta en la Biblioteca ETSI Industriales (Riunet)

[EN] Biofilms are bacterial colonies that grow embedded in a biopolymer matrix surrounded by fluid. These colonies attach to surfaces and grow in a inhomogeneous way. The study of their growth direction is a priority not defined due to its dependence on stresses and displacements produced by interaction with the fluid. The study of their growth behavior under flow conditions seems to be necessary to predict correctly the shape of a grown biofilm. In order to describe growth in continuum mechanics, the use of multiplicative decomposition of the deformations into an elastic part and a growth contribution makes possible a finite element simulation of the structural part. Once the structural problem is defined, the surfaces of the biofilm can be linked with the boundaries of the fluid problem obtaining a fluid structure coupled problem. This work consists of: A literature study about growth and mechanical behavior of biofilms The elaboration of several FEM/CFD simulations of biofilm growth with di erent fluid conditions An analysis of the growth direction with the di erent conditions for the structural and the fluid problem Validation of the results with values from the literature