A poroelastic [formula omitted]-SPH model for modeling biofilm deformation and sloughing in microfluidic channels.

We present a poroelastic fluid–structure interaction δ -SPH model for simulating biofilm deformation and sloughing in microfluidic channels. Based on the mixture theory, this model accurately handles large deformations of solid structures and simultaneously simulates seepage flow within the porous biofilm and external flow. A key advantage of the model is its reliance on the solid phase material properties rather than the averaged properties of the biofilm, enabling the modeling of changes in porosity and biofilm material properties induced by loads. Model verification is achieved through two benchmark problems, followed by application to biofilm deformation and sloughing studies. The Young's modulus of biofilms is a key parameter of interest in many studies. Calibration of the biofilm's solid material elasticity modulus by using the presented model yields a value of 200 Pa, aligning with previous reports in literature. Additionally, the model is capable of simulating the sloughing process by evaluating local von Mises equivalent stress, reproducing different detachment patterns corresponding to various material strengths. This δ -SPH model offers an efficient numerical tool for biofilm analysis and is extendable to simulate other fluid–structure interaction problems involving porous media with large deformations, such as soil, debris flow, and biological tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]