Free boundary problem for an initial cell layer in multispecies biofilm formation

The initial attached cell layer in multispecies biofilm growth is considered. The corresponding mathematical model leads to discuss a free boundary problem for a system of nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations, where the initial biofilm thickness is equal to zero. No assumptions on initial conditions for biomass concentrations and biofilm thickness are required. The data that the problem needs are the concentration of biomass in the bulk liquid and biomass flux from the bulk liquid. The method of characteristics is used to convert the differential system to Volterra integral equations for which an existence and uniqueness theorem is proved. Subsequently, we show that the free boundary is an increasing function of time and biomass concentrations are positive in agreement with the biological process.     

Two-dimensional modeling of microscale transport and biotransformation in porous media

We develop a model for simulating the growth of a biofilm in a tortuous tube. The solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations and the advection-diffusion equation are calculated numerically using finite differences. These solutions are then coupled with a biofilm growth model. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Qualitative analysis of the invasion free boundary problem in biofilms

The work presents the qualitative analysis of the free boundary value problem related to the invasion model for multispecies biofilms. This model is based on the continuum approach for biofilm modeling and consists of a system of nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations for microbial species growth and spreading, a system of semilinear elliptic partial differential equations describing the substrate trends and a system of semilinear elliptic partial differential equations accounting for the diffusion and reaction of motile species within the biofilm. The free boundary evolution is regulated by a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Overall, this leads to a free boundary value problem essentially hyperbolic. By using the method of characteristics, the partial differential equations constituting the invasion model are converted to Volterra integral equations. Then, the fixed point theorem is used for the uniqueness and existence result. The work is completed with numerical simulations describing the invasion of nitrite oxidizing bacteria in a biofilm initially constituted by ammonium oxidizing bacteria.     

Numerical analysis of a parabolic variational inequality system modeling biofilm growth at the porescale

In this article, we consider a system of two coupled nonlinear diffusion–reaction partial differential equations (PDEs) which model the growth of biofilm and consumption of the nutrient. At the scale of interest the biofilm density is subject to a pointwise constraint, thus the biofilm PDE is framed as a parabolic variational inequality. We derive rigorous error estimates for a finite element approximation to the coupled nonlinear system and confirm experimentally that the numerical approximation converges at the predicted rate. We also show simulations in which we track the free boundary in the domains which resemble the pore scale geometry and in which we test the different modeling assumptions.     

A finite element model for biofilm volume growth

In this work, we present a continuum-based approach for biofilm volume growth. The deformation gradient will be multiplicatively decomposed into two parts: a growth part due to bacteria formation and an elastic part due to the interaction with the environment. In order to define the growth behaviour of biofilms, we use the Monod approach that depends non-linearly on the substrate concentration. The substrate concentration in the biofilm is computed by means of a diffusion process, which includes substrate consumption, together with the mechanical behaviour as part of a coupled problem. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Qualitative analysis and simulations of a free boundary problem for multispecies biofilm models

The work presents an analysis of solutions to a free boundary value problem for a multispecies biofilm growth model in one space dimension. The mathematical model consists of a system of nonlinear partial differential equations and a free boundary. It is quite general and can include a large variety of special situations. An existence and uniqueness theorem is discussed and properties of solutions are given. As a numerical application, simulations for a heterotrophic–autotrophic competition are developed by the method of characteristics.     

Numerical solutions of two-dimensional Burgers’ equations by lattice Boltzmann method

In this paper, the two-dimensional Burgers’ equations with two variables are solved numerically by the lattice Boltzmann method. The lattice Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook model we used can recover the macroscopic equation with the second order accuracy. Numerical solutions for various values of Reynolds number, computational domain, initial and boundary conditions are calculated and validated against exact solutions or other published results. It is concluded that the proposed method performs well.     

可变形孔隙介质中热、水耦合力学问题的代数多格子分析方法

研究了孔隙介质中包括热和质量传递的全耦合多相流问题的代数多格子分析方法。数学模型包括质量、线性矩、能量平衡方程和本构方程,以位移、毛细压力、汽压和温度为基本变量,模型中采用了考虑毛细压力关系的修正有效应力概念,并考虑相变、热传导、对流和潜热交换(汽化-冷凝),气相是由易混合的干空气和水蒸气组成,视为理想气体。考题显示出较高的计算效率。     

On Closure Conditions for the Moment Equations of a Bipolar Kinetic Model

We consider a bipolar kinetic model for charged media. In certain scalings the Debye length or the relaxation time are small. In addition different time scales are considered. These can be used in order to close the corresponding moment equations and leads to a (closed) set of macroscopic equations. We show three different scalings and obtain three completely different sets of macroscopic equations.     

Analysis of a kinetic cellular model for tumor-immune system interaction

Starting at a kinetic level from the equations for the evolution of dominance in populations of interacting organisms, and taking proliferative and destructive encounters into account, a simple model describing the competition between tumor cells and immune system is studied in some detail. Under reasonable assumptions, a closed set of macroscopic balance equations for macroscopic observables is derived by a moment procedure, and analyzed in the frame of the theory of dynamical systems. It is shown that a transcritical bifurcation of equilibria generates a region in the phase space in which, according to the model, the immune system defeats the tumor and leads to its depletion. Numerical results are presented and briefly commented on.     

Modeling of bainitic phase transformation

In this work, we present a macroscopic material model for simulation of austenite to bainite and of austenite to martensite transformations accompanied by transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP), which is an important phenomenon in metal forming processes. In order to account for the incubation time the model considers nucleation of the bainite phase. When this quantity attains a barrier term, growth of bainite volume fraction is started. The model formulation allows for individual evolutions of upper and lower bainite. Furthermore, the numerical implementation of the constitutive equations into a finite element program is described. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The effect of boundary conditions on the mesoscopic lattice Boltzmann method: Case study of a reaction-diffusion based model for Min-protein oscillation

Min-protein oscillation in Escherichia coli has an essential role in controlling the accurate placement of the cell division septum at the middle-cell zone of the bacteria. This biochemical process has been successfully described by a set of reaction-diffusion equations at the macroscopic level. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been used to simulate Min-protein oscillation and proved to recover the correct macroscopic equations. In this present work, we studied the effects of LBM boundary conditions (BC) on Min-protein oscillation. The impact of diffusion and reaction dynamics on BCs was also investigated. It was found that the mirror-image BC is a suitable boundary treatment for this Min-protein model. The physical significance of the results is extensively discussed.     

Continuum approach to mathematical modelling of multispecies biofilms

The work presents a contribution to the mathematical modelling of formation and growth of multispecies biofilms in the framework of continuum approach, without claiming to be complete. Mathematical models for biofilms often lead to consider free boundary value problems for nonlinear PDEs. The emphasis is on the qualitative analysis, uniqueness and existence of solutions and their main properties. Biofilm life is a complex biological process formed by several phases from the formation, development of colonies, attachment and detachment of microbial mass from (to) biofilm to (from) bulk liquid. Most of these processes are modelled and discussed. Moreover, some problems of interest for engineering and biological applications are considered. Indeed, we discuss the free boundary value problem related to biofilm reactors extensively used in wastewater treatment, and the invasion of new species into an already constituted biofilm with the successive colonizations. The main mathematical methodology used is the method of characteristics. The original differential problem is converted to integral equations. Then, the fixed point theorem is applied.     

An explicitly solvable kinetic model for vehicular traffic and associated macroscopic equations

In the present paper, a kinetic model for vehicular traffic is presented and investigated in detail. For this model, the stationary distributions can be determined explicitly. A derivation of associated macroscopic traffic flow equations from the kinetic equation is given. The coefficients appearing in these equations are identified from the solutions of the underlying stationary kinetic equation and are given explicitly. Moreover, numerical experiments and comparisons between different macroscopic models are presented.     

Micromechanical Modeling of Woven Fiber Composites for the Construction of Effective Anisotropic Polyconvex Energies

In computer simulations where constitutive equations are considered polyconvex energies can preferably be used because the existence of minimizers is then automatically guaranteed. In this work we investigate the capability to simulate woven fiber composites using polyconvex energies. A virtual experiment of the microstructure of the considered composite is performed and the results are used for the specification of an effective macroscopic anisotropic polyconvex model. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fractional differential equations with a Caputo derivative with respect to a Kernel function and their applications

This paper is devoted to the study of the initial value problem of nonlinear fractional differential equations involving a Caputo‐type fractional derivative with respect to another function. Existence and uniqueness results for the problem are established by means of the some standard fixed point theorems. Next, we develop the Picard iteration method for solving numerically the problem and obtain results on the long‐term behavior of solutions. Finally, we analyze a population growth model and a gross domestic product model with governing equations being fractional differential equations that we have introduced in this work.     

Lattice-Boltzmann Models for heat transfer

A multispeed heat transfer lattice Boltzmann model is presented. The model possesses the perfect gas state equation with arbitrary special heat ratio. The macroscopic conservation equations are derived by the Chapman-Enskog method. The one dimensional simulation for the sinusoidal energy distributions are compared with the theoretical results, showing good agreement. The theoretical conductivity in the energy equation is in accordance with the simulations.