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Main Authors: Carl, Tillmann, Schoenecker, Clarissa
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.03797
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author Carl, Tillmann
Schoenecker, Clarissa
author_facet Carl, Tillmann
Schoenecker, Clarissa
contents In this study, we investigate the thermocapillary rotation of microgears at fluid interfaces and extend the concept of geometric asymmetry to the translational propulsion of micron-sized particles. We introduce a transient numerical model that couples the Navier-Stokes equations with heat transfer, displaying particle motion through a moving mesh interface. The model incorporates absorbed light illumination as a heat source and predicts both rotational and translational speeds of particles. Our simulations explore the influence of microgear design geometry and determine the scale at which thermocapillary Marangoni motion could serve as a viable propulsion method. A clear correlation between Reynolds number and propulsion efficiency can be recognized. To transfer the asymmetry-based propulsion principle from rotational to directed translational motion, various particle geometries are considered. The exploration of breaking geometric symmetry for translational propulsion is mostly ignored in the existing literature, thus warranting further discussion. Therefore, we analyse expected translational speeds in comparison to corresponding microgears to provide insights into this promising propulsion method.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_03797
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Modeling thermocapillary microgear rotation and transfer to translational particle propulsion
Carl, Tillmann
Schoenecker, Clarissa
Fluid Dynamics
In this study, we investigate the thermocapillary rotation of microgears at fluid interfaces and extend the concept of geometric asymmetry to the translational propulsion of micron-sized particles. We introduce a transient numerical model that couples the Navier-Stokes equations with heat transfer, displaying particle motion through a moving mesh interface. The model incorporates absorbed light illumination as a heat source and predicts both rotational and translational speeds of particles. Our simulations explore the influence of microgear design geometry and determine the scale at which thermocapillary Marangoni motion could serve as a viable propulsion method. A clear correlation between Reynolds number and propulsion efficiency can be recognized. To transfer the asymmetry-based propulsion principle from rotational to directed translational motion, various particle geometries are considered. The exploration of breaking geometric symmetry for translational propulsion is mostly ignored in the existing literature, thus warranting further discussion. Therefore, we analyse expected translational speeds in comparison to corresponding microgears to provide insights into this promising propulsion method.
title Modeling thermocapillary microgear rotation and transfer to translational particle propulsion
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.03797