Numerical simulation of the mechanics of oblique interaction of a bacterium with a flat surface

Abstract

Looking from the mechanical point of view the suspension containing the bacteria may be considered as a system of living active ultrafine particles. Here a model is developed for the interaction of the bacterium in an oblique direction during contact. The model considers an adhesive bacterium moving through a fluid, acting with appropriate specific forces, such as steric, electrostatic double layer and hydrodynamic forces. To understand the influence of the latter hydrodynamic forces on the bacterium, numerical experiments using DEM are carried out with this force and without it. A comparison of these two cases shows the difference in movement.