Abstract
A squirmer model achieves propulsion by generating surface squirming velocities. This model has been used to analyze the movement of micro-swimmers, such as microorganisms and Janus particles. Although squirmer motion has been widely investigated, motions of two connected squirmers, i.e., a dumbbell squirmer, remain to be clarified. The stable assembly of multiple micro-swimmers could be a key technology for future micromachine applications. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the swimming behavior and stability of a dumbbell squirmer. We first examined far-field stability through linear stability analysis, and found that stable forward swimming could not be achieved by a dumbbell squirmer in the far field without the addition of external torque. We then investigated the swimming speed of a dumbbell squirmer connected by a short rigid rod using a boundary element method. Finally, we investigated the swimming stability of a dumbbell squirmer connected by a spring. Our results demonstrated that stable side-by-side swimming can be achieved by pullers. When the aft squirmer was a strong pusher, fore and aft swimming were stable and swimming speed increased significantly. The findings of this study will be useful for the future design of assembled micro-swimmers.
Highlights
Artificial micro-swimmers have attracted strong research interest due to their potential environmental and medical applications [1,2]
We investigate the stability of a dumbbell squirmer in the far field, because it can be clarified mathematically using linear stability analysis
We investigated the swimming behavior and stability of a dumbbell squirmer
Summary
Artificial micro-swimmers have attracted strong research interest due to their potential environmental and medical applications [1,2]. Hydrodynamic forces play an important role in constructing such assemblies, because the stability of an assembled micro-swimmer is strongly influenced by the flow field generated by surrounding micro-swimmers. For details of the squirmer model, please refer to the excellent review by Pedley [39] These previous studies have clarified various aspects of the squirmer model, the motion of two assembled squirmers, i.e., a dumbbell squirmer, has not yet been investigated in detail. Navarro and Pagonabarraga [33] investigated the hydrodynamic interactions of two trapped squirmers None of these studies examined free-swimming dumbbell squirmers. Understanding the swimming behaviors and stability of the dumbbell squirmer is an important step in constructing a large assembly of micro-swimmers. In this study, we investigated the swimming behaviors and stability of the dumbbell squirmer.
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