Applications of level set methods in computational biophysics

rapport interne MAP5 2007-13, accepté pour publication dans Mathematical and Computer ModellingInternational audienceWe describe in this paper two applications of Eulerian level set methods to fluid-structure problems arising in biophysics. The first one is concerned with three-dimensional equilibrium shapes of phospholipidic vesicles. This is a complex problem which can be recast as the minimization of the curvature energy of an immersed elastic membrane, under a constant area constraint. The second deals with isolated cardiomyocyte contraction. This problem corresponds to a generic incompressible fluid-structure coupling between an elastic body and a fluid. By the choice of these two quite different situations, we aim to bring evidences that Eulerian methods provide efficient and flexible computational tools in biophysics applications