title: Material modeling of biofilm mechanical properties.
abstract: A biofilm material model and a procedure for numerical integration are developed in this article. They enable calculation of a composite Young's modulus that varies in the biofilm and evolves with deformation. The biofilm-material model makes it possible to introduce a modeling example, produced by the Unified Multi-Component Cellular Automaton model, into the general-purpose finite-element code ABAQUS. Compressive, tensile, and shear loads are imposed, and the way the biofilm mechanical properties evolve is assessed. Results show that the local values of Young's modulus increase under compressive loading, since compression results in the voids "closing," thus making the material stiffer. For the opposite reason, biofilm stiffness decreases when tensile loads are imposed. Furthermore, the biofilm is more compliant in shear than in compression or tension due to the how the elastic shear modulus relates to Young's modulus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece. Electronic address: laspidou@uth.gr.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Laspidou
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research & Technology-Thessaly, Center for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH), 95 Dimitriados Str., 38333 Volos, Greece.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Spyrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Thessaly, Pedion Areos, 38334 Volos, Greece; International Institute for Carbon Neutral Energy Research (WPI-I(2)CNER), Kyushu University, 744 Moto-oka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aravas
authors.affiliation: Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1000 S. McAllister Ave., P.O. Box 875701, Tempe, AZ 85287-5701, USA.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Rittmann
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018441:Biofilms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008954:Models, Biological; D012984:Software; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials
keywords: Biofilm mechanical properties; Biofilm modeling; Composite Young’s modulus; Consolidation