Date of Award
5-2022
Document Type
Thesis - SCU Access Only
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2022.
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Oh Shun Pak
Abstract
Biological and artificial microswimmers often encounter fluid media with non-Newtonian rheological properties. In particular, many biological fluids such as blood and mucus are shear-thinning. Recent studies have demonstrated how shear-thinning rheology can impact substantially the propulsion performance in different manners. In this work, we examine the effect of geometrical shape upon locomotion in a shear-thinning fluid using a prolate spheroidal squirmer model. We use a combination of asymptotic analysis and numerical simulations to quantify how particle geometry impacts the speed and the energetic cost of swimming. The results demonstrate the advantages of spheroidal over spherical swimmers in terms of both swimming speed and energetic efficiency when squirming through a shear-thinning fluid. More generally, the findings suggest the possibility of tuning the swimmer geometry to better exploit non-Newtonian rheological behaviours for more effective locomotion in complex fluids.
Recommended Citation
van Gogh, Brandon, "The Effect of Particle Geometry on Squirming Through a Shear-Thinning Fluid" (2022). Mechanical Engineering Master's Theses. 47.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/mech_mstr/47