Two-Way FSI Modeling of Biofouled Surfaces in Turbulent Flow

A canonical biofouling configuration on channel walls is modeled using a two-way coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) framework. A finite volume-based Euler-Euler formulation is employed to solve the governing equations of a one-continuum system representing both the fluid and the deformable biofouled structures. The wall is populated with neo-Hookean cuboidal elements whose heights span from the inner layer into the logarithmic and outer regions of a turbulent channel flow at friction Reynolds number Re_τ = 180. The simulation captures the coupled dynamics between the deformable elements and the turbulent flow field. The resulting interactions, quantified through the forces on the cuboidal elements and the flow response in their wake, reveal key physical insights into how biofouling alters near-wall turbulence. These findings enhance our understanding of the hydrodynamic consequences of biofouling and offer guidance for its mitigation in both environmental and engineering applications.