Life in complex fluids: Swimming in polymers
Paulo E. Arratia
Abstract
How do microorganisms move in fluids that contain particles and/or polymers? Such fluids often display nonlinear rheological behavior such as shear-rate dependent viscosity and viscoelasticity. The effects of such rheological behavior on the swimming behavior of microorganism at low Reynolds number are only recently being elucidated. This article highlights a few of the key developments in the field of swimming in complex fluids.
Topics & Concepts
RheologyViscoelasticityComplex fluidPolymerViscosityReynolds numberShear rateShear (geology)Polymer scienceMaterials scienceMechanicsPhysicsComposite materialTurbulenceMicro and Nano RoboticsMicrofluidic and Bio-sensing TechnologiesPickering emulsions and particle stabilization