Title :
Simulation of swimming organisms: coupling internal mechanics with external fluid dynamics
Author :
Cortez, Ricardo ; Fauci, Lisa ; Cowen, Nathaniel ; Dillon, Robert
Author_Institution :
Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA, USA
Abstract :
Problems in biological fluid dynamics typically involve the interaction of an elastic structure with its surrounding fluid. A unified computational approach, based on an immersed boundary framework, couples the internal force-generating mechanisms of organisms and cells with an external, viscous, incompressible fluid. Computational simulation, in conjunction with laboratory experiment, can provide valuable insight into complex biological systems that involve the interaction of an elastic structure with a viscous, incompressible fluid. This biological fluid-dynamics setting presents several more challenges than those traditionally faced in computational fluid dynamics - specifically, dynamic flow situations dominate, and capturing time-dependent geometries with large structural deformations is necessary. In addition, the shape of the elastic structures is not preset: fluid dynamics determines it. This article presents our recent progress on coupling the internal molecular motor mechanisms of beating cilia and flagella with an external fluid, as well as the three-dimensional (3D) undulatory swimming of nematodes and leeches. We expect these computational models to provide a testbed for examining different theories of internal force-generation mechanisms.
Keywords :
biological fluid dynamics; biology computing; computational fluid dynamics; computer animation; data visualisation; digital simulation; microorganisms; 3D undulatory swimming; biological fluid dynamics; cells; cilia; complex biological systems; computational biology; computational fluid dynamics; computational models; computational simulation; computer simulation; dynamic flow situations; elastic structure; external fluid dynamics; flagella; immersed boundary framework; incompressible fluid; internal force-generating mechanisms; internal mechanics; internal molecular motor mechanisms; laboratory experiment; leeches; nematodes; structural deformations; swimming organisms; time-dependent geometries; unified computational approach; viscous fluid; Biological system modeling; Biological systems; Biology computing; Computational fluid dynamics; Computational geometry; Computational modeling; Fluid dynamics; Laboratories; Organisms; Shape;
Journal_Title :
Computing in Science & Engineering
DOI :
10.1109/MCISE.2004.1289307