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Swimming efficiency in viscosity gradients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 October 2024

Jiahao Gong ,
Vaseem A. Shaik Open the ORCID record for Vaseem A. Shaik [Opens in a new window]  and
Gwynn J. Elfring Open the ORCID record for Gwynn J. Elfring [Opens in a new window]
Jiahao Gong
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Institute of Applied Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada
Vaseem A. Shaik
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Applied Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Gwynn J. Elfring*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, Institute of Applied Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Applied Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

In this note, we study the effect of viscosity gradients on the energy dissipated by the motion of microswimmers and the associated efficiency of that motion. Using spheroidal squirmer model swimmers in weak linearly varying viscosity fields, we find that efficiency depends on whether they generate propulsion from the back (pushers) or the front (pullers). Pushers are faster and more efficient when moving down gradients, but slower and less efficient moving up viscosity gradients, and the opposite is true for pullers. However, both pushers and pullers display negative viscotaxis, therefore pushers dynamically tend to the most efficient orientation, while pullers tend to the least. We also evaluate the effect of shape on power expenditure and efficiency when swimming in viscosity gradients, and find that in general, the change in both due to gradients decreases monotonically with increasing slenderness. This work shows how shape and gait play an important role in determining dynamics and efficiency in inhomogeneous environments, and demonstrating that both efficiency minimizing and maximizing stable dynamical states are possible.

JFM classification

Biological Fluid Dynamics: Micro-organism dynamics
Type
JFM Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 998 , 10 November 2024 , A2
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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