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On the self-propulsion of an $N$-sphere micro-robot

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2013

V. A. Vladimirov
V. A. Vladimirov*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
*
†Email address for correspondence: vv500@york.ac.uk
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe the self-propulsion of a micro-robot (or micro-swimmer) consisting of $N$ spheres moving along a fixed line. The spheres are linked to each other by arms with their lengths changing periodically. We use the asymptotic procedure containing the two-timing method and a distinguished limit. We show that self-propulsion velocity appears (in the main approximation) as a linear combination of velocities of all possible triplets of spheres. Velocities and efficiencies of three-, four- and five-sphere swimmers are calculated.

JFM classification

Biological Fluid Dynamics: Biological Fluid Dynamics Low-Reynolds-number flows: Low-Reynolds-number flows Micro-/Nano-fluid dynamics: Micro-/Nano-fluid dynamics Biological Fluid Dynamics: Propulsion
Type
Rapids
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 716 , 10 February 2013 , R1
Copyright
©2013 Cambridge University Press

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