Minimal design of a synthetic cilium

We study a slender filament beating in a viscous fluid with novel curvature-dependent bending stiffness. Our numerical and experimental investigations reveal that such differential stiffness can sustain planar bending waves far along flexible filaments, in stark contrast to the uniform-stiffness cas...

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Main Authors: Clément Moreau, Benjamin J. Walker, Rebecca N. Poon, Daniel Soto, Daniel I. Goldman, Eamonn A. Gaffney, Kirsty Y. Wan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2024-12-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L042061
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author Clément Moreau
Benjamin J. Walker
Rebecca N. Poon
Daniel Soto
Daniel I. Goldman
Eamonn A. Gaffney
Kirsty Y. Wan
author_facet Clément Moreau
Benjamin J. Walker
Rebecca N. Poon
Daniel Soto
Daniel I. Goldman
Eamonn A. Gaffney
Kirsty Y. Wan
author_sort Clément Moreau
collection DOAJ
description We study a slender filament beating in a viscous fluid with novel curvature-dependent bending stiffness. Our numerical and experimental investigations reveal that such differential stiffness can sustain planar bending waves far along flexible filaments, in stark contrast to the uniform-stiffness case which requires more sophisticated control. In particular, we establish basal actuation as a viable, parsimonious mechanism for generating high-amplitude planar bending waves. Moreover, the resulting beat patterns closely resemble the power-and-recovery strokes of propulsive biological filaments such as cilia, suggesting extensive applications in robotic and engineered systems.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2643-1564
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher American Physical Society
record_format Article
series Physical Review Research
spelling doaj-art-18b35d372ad94591a573559087bf7ba52024-12-12T15:03:15ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642024-12-0164L04206110.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L042061Minimal design of a synthetic ciliumClément MoreauBenjamin J. WalkerRebecca N. PoonDaniel SotoDaniel I. GoldmanEamonn A. GaffneyKirsty Y. WanWe study a slender filament beating in a viscous fluid with novel curvature-dependent bending stiffness. Our numerical and experimental investigations reveal that such differential stiffness can sustain planar bending waves far along flexible filaments, in stark contrast to the uniform-stiffness case which requires more sophisticated control. In particular, we establish basal actuation as a viable, parsimonious mechanism for generating high-amplitude planar bending waves. Moreover, the resulting beat patterns closely resemble the power-and-recovery strokes of propulsive biological filaments such as cilia, suggesting extensive applications in robotic and engineered systems.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L042061
spellingShingle Clément Moreau
Benjamin J. Walker
Rebecca N. Poon
Daniel Soto
Daniel I. Goldman
Eamonn A. Gaffney
Kirsty Y. Wan
Minimal design of a synthetic cilium
Physical Review Research
title Minimal design of a synthetic cilium
title_full Minimal design of a synthetic cilium
title_fullStr Minimal design of a synthetic cilium
title_full_unstemmed Minimal design of a synthetic cilium
title_short Minimal design of a synthetic cilium
title_sort minimal design of a synthetic cilium
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.L042061
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