IB2d: a Python and MATLAB implementation of the immersed boundary method

TL;DR

IB2d is an open source, user-friendly software package in MATLAB and Python for simulating fluid-structure interactions, especially in biomechanics, offering flexibility, robustness, and accessibility for researchers.

Contribution

It provides a versatile, open source implementation of the immersed boundary method in MATLAB and Python, filling gaps in existing tools regarding accessibility and flexibility.

Findings

Supports a wide range of biomechanics models

Includes multiple options for material properties and chemical gradients

Accessible to scientists with high-level programming experience

Abstract

The development of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) software involves trade-offs between ease of use, generality, performance, and cost. Typically there are large learning curves when using low-level software to model the interaction of an elastic structure immersed in a uniform density fluid. Many existing codes are not publicly available, and the commercial software that exists usually requires expensive licenses and may not be as robust or allow the necessary flexibility that in house codes can provide. We present an open source immersed boundary software package, IB2d, with full implementations in both MATLAB and Python, that is capable of running a vast range of biomechanics models and is accessible to scientists who have experience in high-level programming environments. IB2d contains multiple options for constructing material properties of the fiber structure, as well as the advection-diffusion of a chemical gradient, muscle mechanics models, and artificial forcing to drive boundaries with a preferred motion.