Numerical simulation of biological capsules based on interface-fitted polygonal meshes

Abstract

In this work we introduce a numerical framework for the simulation of biological capsules based on meshes that adapt iteration-wise to the shape of the membrane. The discretization leverages a Hybrid High Order method (HHO) to solve a Stokes problem with a source term distributed on the interface between the internal and the external phases. The HHO discretization supports meshes composed of general polygons, permitting to use fitted meshes that can be easily generated by cutting the elements intersected by the interface. Moreover, polygonal meshes allow arbitrarily accurate interface discretizations without introducing bulk degrees of freedom. The presentation of the simulation algorithm is completed with a proof-of-concept numerical test on a well-established benchmark: the deformation of an elastic capsule immersed in a shear flow.