EFFECT OF SMALL SOLID PARTICLES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOCONVECTION PLUMES

摘要

The objective of this paper is to investigate numerically the impact of small solid particles on the steady-state bioconvection plume caused by up-swimming of motile gyrotactic micro-organisms. Small solid particles that are heavier than water are added into the upper fluid layer when bioconvection has already attained its steady-state. As sedimentation process goes on, solid particles get involved in convection. They impact the fluid flow and cause the transition of the bioconvection plume to a different steady-state.