Swimming in micro/nano domains is a challenge and involves a departure from standard methods of propulsion, which are effective at macrodomains. Flagella based propulsion is seen extensively in nature and has been proposed as a means of propelling nanorobots. Natural flagella actively consume energy in order to generate bending moments that sustain constant or increasing amplitude along their length. However, for man-made applications fabricating passive elastic filaments to function as flagella is more feasible. Of the two methods of flagellar propulsion, namely, planar wave and helical wave, the former has been studied from a passive filament point of view, whereas the latter is largely unexplored. In the present work an elastohydrodynamic model of the filament has been created and the same is used to obtain the steady state shape of an elastic filament driven in a Stokes flow regime. A modified resistive force theory, which is very effective in predicting propulsion parameters for a given shape, is used to study the propulsive dynamics of such a filament. The effect of boundary conditions of the filament on determining its final shape and propulsive characteristics are investigated. Optimization of physical parameters is carried out for each of the boundary conditions considered. The same are compared with the planar wave model.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: nitinipun@gmail.com
Article navigation
February 2011
Research Papers
Nanorobot Propulsion Using Helical Elastic Filaments at Low Reynolds Numbers
Deepak K.,
Deepak K.
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
, Pilani-333031, India
Search for other works by this author on:
J. S. Rathore,
J. S. Rathore
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
, Pilani-333031, India
Search for other works by this author on:
N. N. Sharma
N. N. Sharma
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: nitinipun@gmail.com
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
, Pilani-333031, India
Search for other works by this author on:
Deepak K.
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
, Pilani-333031, India
J. S. Rathore
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
, Pilani-333031, India
N. N. Sharma
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science
, Pilani-333031, Indiae-mail: nitinipun@gmail.com
J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med. Feb 2011, 2(1): 011009 (6 pages)
Published Online: February 4, 2011
Article history
Received:
December 7, 2010
Revised:
December 17, 2010
Online:
February 4, 2011
Published:
February 4, 2011
Citation
K., D., Rathore, J. S., and Sharma, N. N. (February 4, 2011). "Nanorobot Propulsion Using Helical Elastic Filaments at Low Reynolds Numbers." ASME. J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med. February 2011; 2(1): 011009. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4003300
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
DNA-Based Bulk Hydrogel Materials and Biomedical Application
J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med (November 2015)
Transient Low-Temperature Effects on Propidium Iodide Uptake in Lance Array Nanoinjected HeLa Cells
J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med (November 2015)
Engineering Embryonic Stem Cell Microenvironments for Tailored Cellular Differentiation
J. Nanotechnol. Eng. Med (November 2015)
Related Articles
Design Methodology for Biomimetic Propulsion of Miniature Swimming Robots
J. Dyn. Sys., Meas., Control (March,2006)
Median and Paired Fin Controllers for Biomimetic Marine Vehicles
Appl. Mech. Rev (July,2005)
Frictional Performance of U-Type Wavy Tubes
J. Fluids Eng (September,2003)
Triangular Cellular Automata for Computing Two-Dimensional Elastodynamic Response on Arbitrary Domains
J. Appl. Mech (March,2011)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Small Raindrops
Case Studies in Fluid Mechanics with Sensitivities to Governing Variables
The Design and Implement of Remote Inclinometer for Power Towers Based on MXA2500G/GSM
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology, 3rd, (ICMET-China 2011), Volumes 1–3
Vortex-Induced Vibration
Flow Induced Vibration of Power and Process Plant Components: A Practical Workbook