Rotation of slender swimmers in isotropic-drag media

Koens, Lyndon; Lauga, Eric

Abstract

The drag anisotropy of slender filaments is a critical physical property allowing swimming in low-Reynolds number flows, and without it linear translation is impossible. Here we show that, in contrast, net rotation can occur under isotropic drag. We first demonstrate this result formally by considering the consequences of the force- and torque-free conditions on swimming bodies and we then illustrate it with two examples (a simple swimmers made of three rods and a model bacterium with two helical flagellar filaments). Our results highlight the different role of hydrodynamic forces in generating translational versus rotational propulsion.

Citation

Koens, L., & Lauga, E. (2016). Rotation of slender swimmers in isotropic-drag media. Physical Review E, 93(4), Article 043125. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.043125

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 21, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Apr 21, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 25, 2022
• Journal: Physical Review E
• Print ISSN: 2470-0045
• Electronic ISSN: 2470-0053
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 93
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 043125
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.93.043125
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3916585