Simulation based experiments of traveling-plane-wave-actuator miropumps and microswimmers

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b1221512 (Table of Contents)

A biologically-inspired micropropulsion method is presented by constructing a series of finite element computational fluid dynamics models for time irreversible inextensible wave propagation method in viscous medium. First, micropump models encompassing fully submerged and anchored waving inextensible film mounted inside a microchannel are analyzed to attain flow, hydraulic power consumption and efficiency plots with respect to parameterized design variables via both 2D and 3D models. Each model is governed by incompressible isothermal Stokes and Navier-Stokes equations respectively and conservation of mass, integrated with deforming mesh employing arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian method. Next, propulsion velocity, power consumption and efficiency plots of a fully submerged free microswimmer utilizing a wave propagating tail inside a viscous environment is analyzed with respect to parameterized design variables via 3D models governed by incompressible isothermal Navier-Stokes equations and conservation of mass, integrated with deforming mesh employing arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian Method. All resultant swimmer motions are modeled directly incorporating with stress interactions between surrounding viscous fluid and swimmer surfaces. It is demonstrated that net forward thrust can be harvested from this interaction. Numerical results are compared with the asymptotical results to analytical studies mainly carried out by Sir Taylor (1951), Katz (1974) and Childress (1981) based on mainly 2D assumptions. It is observed that there exists a strong agreement between earlier results and numerical results besides from wavelength parameter which illustrates slight deviation in power consumption characteristics due to the effects introduced by the existence of third dimension.