Computer simulations of magnetocapillary swimmers

Xie, Qingguang; Sukhov, Alexander; Harting, Jens

Poster (After Call)

FZJ-2016-05380

Computer simulations of magnetocapillary swimmers

Xie, Q. ; Sukhov, A. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Harting, J.FZJ*

2016

Microswimmers – From Single Particle Motion to Collective Behaviour, Bonn, Germany, 4 Oct 2016 - 7 Oct 2016

Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/12895

Abstract: Self-assembled magnetocapillary microswimmers were experimentally demonstrated recently. Here, we study the motion of a magnetocapillary swimmer by means of a hybrid lattice Boltzmann and discrete element method. Three magnetic particles are placed at a fluid-fluid interface. The particles deform the interface due to their weights, leading thus to a capillary attraction force. At the same time, the particles experience a repulsive magnetic dipole-dipole force along with an upwards applied static magnetic field. Through the competing of attractive capillary and repulsive magnetic forces, a stable assembly of the three magnetic particles is achieved. By applying an oscillating horizontal magnetic field, the triplet demonstrates a directed motion. We numerically investigate the effect of frequency and direction of the magnetic field on the motion of the swimmer and analyze the results theoretically. In addition, we demonstrate a possible application of magnetocapillary swimmers for cargo transportation.

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