Fibrotaxis: gradient-free, spontaneous and controllable droplet motion on soft solids
Fuente:
arXiv
Gespeichert in:
| Hauptverfasser: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2023
|
| Schlagworte: | |
| Online-Zugang: | |
| Tags: |
Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
|
| _version_ | 1866918219572314112 |
|---|---|
| author | Bhopalam, Sthavishtha R. Bueno, Jesus Gomez, Hector |
| author_facet | Bhopalam, Sthavishtha R. Bueno, Jesus Gomez, Hector |
| contents | Most passive droplet transport strategies rely on spatial variations of material properties to drive droplet motion, leading to gradient-based mechanisms with intrinsic length scales that limit the droplet velocity or the transport distance. Here, we propose droplet {\it fibrotaxis}, a novel mechanism that leverages an anisotropic fiber-reinforced deformable solid to achieve spontaneous and gradient-free droplet transport. Using high-fidelity simulations, we identify the fluid wettability, fiber orientation, anisotropy strength and elastocapillary number as critical parameters that enable controllable droplet velocity and long-range droplet transport. Our results highlight the potential of fibrotaxis as a droplet transport mechanism that can have a strong impact on self-cleaning surfaces, water harvesting and medical diagnostics. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2310_08113 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Fibrotaxis: gradient-free, spontaneous and controllable droplet motion on soft solids Bhopalam, Sthavishtha R. Bueno, Jesus Gomez, Hector Fluid Dynamics Soft Condensed Matter Most passive droplet transport strategies rely on spatial variations of material properties to drive droplet motion, leading to gradient-based mechanisms with intrinsic length scales that limit the droplet velocity or the transport distance. Here, we propose droplet {\it fibrotaxis}, a novel mechanism that leverages an anisotropic fiber-reinforced deformable solid to achieve spontaneous and gradient-free droplet transport. Using high-fidelity simulations, we identify the fluid wettability, fiber orientation, anisotropy strength and elastocapillary number as critical parameters that enable controllable droplet velocity and long-range droplet transport. Our results highlight the potential of fibrotaxis as a droplet transport mechanism that can have a strong impact on self-cleaning surfaces, water harvesting and medical diagnostics. |
| title | Fibrotaxis: gradient-free, spontaneous and controllable droplet motion on soft solids |
| topic | Fluid Dynamics Soft Condensed Matter |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.08113 |