Abstract
A body with mechanical sensors may remotely detect particles suspended in the surrounding fluid via controlled agitation. Here we propose a sensory mode that relies on generating unsteady flow and sensing particle-induced distortions in the flow field. We demonstrate the basic physical principle in a simple analytical model, which consists of a small spherical particle at some distance from a plate undergoing impulsive or oscillatory motion. The model shows that changes in pressure or shear on the plate can be used to infer the location and size of the sphere. The key ingredient is to produce strong shear or strain around the sphere, which requires careful tuning of the viscous boundary layer on the moving plate. This elucidates how some organisms and devices may control their unsteady dynamics to enhance their range of perception.
Highlights
A body with mechanical sensors may remotely detect particles suspended in the surrounding fluid via controlled agitation
Sensing objects remotely based on disturbances generated in the flow field is commonly known as hydrodynamic imaging
Our study considers the problem of locating an inert particle in unsteady as opposed to steady flow and elucidates how the effects of fluid viscosity and inertia can be carefully tuned to enhance the sensing performance
Summary
A body with mechanical sensors may remotely detect particles suspended in the surrounding fluid via controlled agitation. To demonstrate the basic physical principle of locating a small particle in a viscous flow field with inertia, we develop a simple proof-of-concept model consisting of a rigid spherical particle near a moving plate.
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