Article

Computational study of the drag and oscillatory movement of biofilm streamers in fast flows

  1. Danial Taherzadeh1,*,
  2. Cristian Picioreanu2,
  3. Ulrich Küttler3,
  4. Angelo Simone4,
  5. Wolfgang A. Wall1,
  6. Harald Horn1

Article first published online: 23 SEP 2009

DOI: 10.1002/bit.22551

Issue

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Biotechnology and Bioengineering

Volume 105, Issue 3, pages 600–610, 15 February 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Taherzadeh, D., Picioreanu, C., Küttler, U., Simone, A., Wall, W. A. and Horn, H. (2010), Computational study of the drag and oscillatory movement of biofilm streamers in fast flows. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 105: 600–610. doi: 10.1002/bit.22551

Author Information

  1. 1

    Institute of Water Quality Control, Technische Universität München, Am Coulombwall, 85748 Garching, Germany; telephone: +49(0)89-289-13700; fax: +49(0)89-289-13718

  2. 2

    Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

  3. 3

    Institute for Computational Mechanics, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany

  4. 4

    Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

*Institute of Water Quality Control, Technische Universität München, Am Coulombwall, 85748 Garching, Germany; telephone: +49(0)89-289-13700; fax: +49(0)89-289-13718.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 DEC 2009
  2. Article first published online: 23 SEP 2009
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 23 SEP 2009 12:00AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 14 SEP 2009
  5. Manuscript Revised: 5 SEP 2009
  6. Manuscript Received: 19 JUN 2009

Funded by

  • Oswald Schulze Stiftung
  • The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO, VIDI Grant). Grant Number: 864.06.003

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Keywords:

  • biofilm;
  • drag;
  • mathematical model;
  • fluid–structure interaction;
  • biofilm streamers;
  • biomechanics

Abstract

Hydrodynamic conditions have a significant impact on the biofilm lifecycle. Not well understood is the fact that biofilms, in return, also affect the flow pattern. A decade ago, it was already shown experimentally that under fast flows, biofilm streamers form and oscillate with large amplitudes. This work is a first attempt to answer the questions on the mechanisms behind the oscillatory movement of the streamers, and whether this movement together with the special streamlined form of the streamers, have both a physical and biological benefit for biofilms. In this study, a state of the art two-dimensional fluid–structure interaction model of biofilm streamers is developed, which implements a transient coupling between the fluid and biofilm mechanics. Hereby, it is clearly shown that formation of a Kármán vortex street behind the streamer body is the main source of the periodic oscillation of the streamers. Additionally it is shown that the formation of streamers reduces the fluid forces which biofilm surface experiences. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 105: 600–610. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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