Axisymmetric squirmers in Stokes fluid with nonuniform viscosity
Patrick S. Eastham, Kourosh Shoele
Abstract
Numerical techniques are employed to study the locomotion of a spheroidal squirmer in a complex fluid with a nutrient-dependent viscosity. It is found that the nonuniform viscosity significantly affects the pressure field around the swimmer rather than the velocity field. Results obtained here will be helpful in interpreting experimental observation where a microswimmer significantly affects a fluid's local rheology.
Topics & Concepts
MechanicsViscosityRotational symmetryPhysicsClassical mechanicsVector fieldField (mathematics)Fluid pressureNavier–Stokes equationsViscous liquidMaterials scienceFluid dynamicsComputer simulationPressure gradientFluid mechanicsStability (learning theory)Computational fluid dynamicsStokes numberNumerical analysisMicro and Nano RoboticsAdvanced Thermodynamics and Statistical MechanicsBiomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms