Settling and Swimming of Flexible Fluid-Lubricated Foils

M. Argentina, J. Skotheim, and L. Mahadevan
Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 224503 – Published 30 November 2007

Abstract

We study the dynamics of a flexible foil immersed in a fluid and moving close to a rigid wall. Lubrication theory allows us to derive equations of motion for the foil and thus examine the passive settling and the active swimming of a foil. This also allows us to partly answer the long-standing question in cartoon physics—can carpets fly? Our analysis suggests a region in parameter space where one may realize this dream and move the virtual towards reality.

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  • Received 6 April 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.224503

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. Argentina, J. Skotheim, and L. Mahadevan

  • Université de Nice, Institut du Non-Linéaire de Nice, 1361 Routes des Lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France
  • Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

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Issue

Vol. 99, Iss. 22 — 30 November 2007

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