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Undulatory Swimming in Viscoelastic Fluids

X. N. Shen and P. E. Arratia
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 208101 – Published 16 May 2011
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Abstract

The effects of fluid elasticity on the swimming behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are experimentally investigated by tracking the nematode’s motion and measuring the corresponding velocity fields. We find that fluid elasticity hinders self-propulsion. Compared to Newtonian solutions, fluid elasticity leads to up to 35% slower propulsion. Furthermore, self-propulsion decreases as elastic stresses grow in magnitude in the fluid. This decrease in self-propulsion in viscoelastic fluids is related to the stretching of flexible molecules near hyperbolic points in the flow.

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  • Received 18 February 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.208101

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Reluctant swimmers

Published 19 May 2011

The swimming motion of organisms in complex fluids is hindered by elasticity.

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Authors & Affiliations

X. N. Shen and P. E. Arratia*

  • Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA

  • *parratia@seas.upenn.edu

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Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 20 — 20 May 2011

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