4. Conclusions
This study for the first time validates a PF computational model with the Oldroyd-B constitutive equation for biofilms, using independently determined biofilm mechanical properties. Shear rheometer results indicated the mixture of alginate and bacteria cells as a reasonable surrogate for biofilm. The developed PF model captured deformations of biofilms in a real fluid environment. The results of homogenous synthetic biofilm showed a 12.8% error distance between modeling and experimental geometries after the fluid driven deformation. Homogenized real biofilm had a larger error (22.2%), possibly caused by the greater spatial heterogeneity in mechanical properties as well as complex biofilm geometry. Our study provides a promising way to capture and to predict biofilm viscoelastic behavior.