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Theory of Locomotion Through Complex Fluids

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Complex Fluids in Biological Systems

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

Abstract

Microorganisms such as bacteria often swim in fluid environments that cannot be classified as Newtonian. Many biological fluids contain polymers or other heterogeneities which may yield complex rheology. For a given set of boundary conditions on a moving organism, flows can be substantially different in complex fluids, while non-Newtonian stresses can alter the gait of the microorganisms themselves. Heterogeneities in the fluid may also be characterized by length scales on the order of the organism itself leading to additional dynamic complexity. In this chapter we present a theoretical overview of small-scale locomotion in complex fluids with a focus on recent efforts quantifying the impact of non-Newtonian rheology on swimming microorganisms.

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Acknowledgment

GE gratefully acknowledges funding from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada while EL thanks the European Union (through a CIG Grant) for partial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Gwynn J. Elfring

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge, Trinity Ln, Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK

    Eric Lauga

Authors
  1. Gwynn J. Elfring
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  2. Eric Lauga
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Correspondence to Gwynn J. Elfring .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Saverio E. Spagnolie

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Elfring, G.J., Lauga, E. (2015). Theory of Locomotion Through Complex Fluids. In: Spagnolie, S. (eds) Complex Fluids in Biological Systems. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2065-5_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2065-5_8

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