A thermodynamic efficiency for Stokesian swimming

Stephen Childress

doi:10.1017/jfm.2011.561

A thermodynamic efficiency for Stokesian swimming

Stephen Childress

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Since free Stokesian swimming does no work external to fluid and body, the classical thermodynamic efficiency of this activity is zero. This paper introduces a potential thermodynamic efficiency by partially tethering the body so that work is done externally and instantaneously. We compare the resulting efficiency with other definitions utilized in Stokes flow, extend the instantaneous definition to encompass a full swimming stroke, and compute it for propulsion of a spherical body by a helical flagellum.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	77-97
Number of pages	21
Journal	Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Volume	705
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2011.561
State	Published - 25 Aug 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Stokesian dynamics
micro-organism dynamics
swimming/flying

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10.1017/jfm.2011.561

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title = "A thermodynamic efficiency for Stokesian swimming",

abstract = "Since free Stokesian swimming does no work external to fluid and body, the classical thermodynamic efficiency of this activity is zero. This paper introduces a potential thermodynamic efficiency by partially tethering the body so that work is done externally and instantaneously. We compare the resulting efficiency with other definitions utilized in Stokes flow, extend the instantaneous definition to encompass a full swimming stroke, and compute it for propulsion of a spherical body by a helical flagellum.",

keywords = "Stokesian dynamics, micro-organism dynamics, swimming/flying",

author = "Stephen Childress",

note = "Funding Information: The research reported in this paper was supported by the National Science Foundation under KDI grant DMS-0507615 at New York University. The author thanks the Institute for Mathematics and its Application for their hospitality during the 2010 Annual Program in Complex Fluids and Complex Flows. A referee provided stimulating comments concerning unsteady swimming, which led to improvements in this study. This paper is cordially dedicated to T. Pedley on the occasion of his 70th birthday.",

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N2 - Since free Stokesian swimming does no work external to fluid and body, the classical thermodynamic efficiency of this activity is zero. This paper introduces a potential thermodynamic efficiency by partially tethering the body so that work is done externally and instantaneously. We compare the resulting efficiency with other definitions utilized in Stokes flow, extend the instantaneous definition to encompass a full swimming stroke, and compute it for propulsion of a spherical body by a helical flagellum.

AB - Since free Stokesian swimming does no work external to fluid and body, the classical thermodynamic efficiency of this activity is zero. This paper introduces a potential thermodynamic efficiency by partially tethering the body so that work is done externally and instantaneously. We compare the resulting efficiency with other definitions utilized in Stokes flow, extend the instantaneous definition to encompass a full swimming stroke, and compute it for propulsion of a spherical body by a helical flagellum.

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KW - micro-organism dynamics

KW - swimming/flying

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JO - Journal of Fluid Mechanics

JF - Journal of Fluid Mechanics

ER -

A thermodynamic efficiency for Stokesian swimming

Abstract

Keywords

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