Numerical comparison of biofilm growth models using prominent modeling approaches

Abstract

AbstractTo make implants, especially oral implants, safer and more durable in patients bodies, in silico models proof to be a useful tool to investigate the growth behavior of harmful biofilms causing implant loss. In literature, most growth models fall into one of two categories: either the growth is calculated volumetricly or by adjusting the density of the growing biological body. The volumetric models perform a kinematic split F = FeFg in which the growth part of the deformation tensor is a direct function of the nutrient concentration Fg = Fg(c). The density based models, on the other hand, develop the density variable φ via an evolution equation. To make existing models more accurate and increase the predictability of those models, a combination of the existing growth models is presented. The model combines the volumetric growth model implemented by a kinematic split of the deformation tensor as a function of a growth parameter Fg(α). The numerical example presented here shows sensible growing behaviour. The combined model thus makes a very promising approach in simulating growth more accurately.