Sedimentation of pairs of hydrodynamically interacting semiflexible filaments

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2007 Dec;76(6 Pt 1):061901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.76.061901. Epub 2007 Dec 4.

Abstract

We describe the effect of hydrodynamic interactions in the sedimentation of a pair of inextensible semiflexible filaments under a uniform constant force at low Reynolds numbers. We have analyzed the different regimes and the morphology of such polymers in simple geometries, which allow us to highlight the peculiarities of the interplay between elastic and hydrodynamic stresses. Cooperative and symmetry breaking effects associated to the geometry of the fibers gives rise to characteristic motion which give them distinct properties from rigid and elastic filaments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton
  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Diffusion
  • Elasticity
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Models, Statistical
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Time Factors