The regularized Stokeslets method applied to the three-sphere swimmer model

Abstract

We investigate the applicability of the Method of Regularized Stokeslets (MRS) in the simulation of micro-swimmers at low Reynolds number. The chosen model for the study is the well-known three linked sphere swimmer. We compare our results with the lattice Boltzmann method, multiparticle collision dynamics, a numerical solution of the Oseen tensor equation and an analytical solution, all taken from Earl et al. [“Modeling microscopic swimmers at low Reynolds number,” J. Chem. Phys. 126, 064703 (2007)]. The MRS is studied in detail, and our results show excellent agreement with the lattice Boltzmann method and with the analytical solution in its range of validity. We conclude that the MRS is well suited for this type of simulation, offering advantages such as being easy to implement and to represent complex geometries. Therefore, it presents itself as a suitable candidate for more complex simulations.