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Air-levitated platelets: from take off to motion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 February 2017
Abstract
A plate placed above a porous substrate through which air is blown can levitate if the airflow is strong enough. We first model the flow needed for taking off, and then examine how an asymmetric texture etched on the porous surface induces directional motion of the hovercraft. We discuss how the texture design impacts the propelling efficiency, and how it can be used to manipulate these frictionless objects both in translation and in rotation.
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- © 2017 Cambridge University Press
References
Soto et al. supplementary movie
Pressure beneath the porous substrate is increased until a glass lamella (a = 15 mm, b = 12 mm, c = 160 _m) starts accelerating owing to viscous entrainment. Once it has reached the end of the track, it is pushed back in the direction opposite to entrainment. Then it decelerates, stops and reaccelerates. Lateral walls placed above the herringbone pattern keep the glider centered for several "pushes".
Soto et al. supplementary movie
Pressure beneath the porous substrate is increased until a glass lamella (a = 15 mm, b = 12 mm, c = 160 _m) starts accelerating owing to viscous entrainment. Once it has reached the end of the track, it is pushed back in the direction opposite to entrainment. Then it decelerates, stops and reaccelerates. Lateral walls placed above the herringbone pattern keep the glider centered for several "pushes".
Soto et al. supplementary movie
Lamella (a = 30 mm, b = 6 mm, c = 180 _m) climbing a slope of 1.2°_ owing to viscous entrainment. From this lateral view, we can distinguish the holes through which air is injected at the bottom of each chevron.
Soto et al. supplementary movie
Lamella (a = 30 mm, b = 6 mm, c = 180 _m) climbing a slope of 1.2°_ owing to viscous entrainment. From this lateral view, we can distinguish the holes through which air is injected at the bottom of each chevron.
Soto et al. supplementary movie
Comparison between two designs (regular and truncated herringbones, with same alpha and a central straight section with width bT = 10 mm in the latter case) entraining a glass plate (a = 30 mm, b = 15 mm, c = 1 mm) of mass M = 1 g.
Soto et al. supplementary movie
Comparison between two designs (regular and truncated herringbones, with same alpha and a central straight section with width bT = 10 mm in the latter case) entraining a glass plate (a = 30 mm, b = 15 mm, c = 1 mm) of mass M = 1 g.
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