Locomotion of a scallop-inspired swimmer in granular matter

Xiao H, Torres Menendez H, Sack A, Pöschel T (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Physical Review Applied American Physical Society

Book Volume: 24

Article Number: 034049

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1103/52rv-8mpz

Abstract

Understanding swimming in soft yielding media is challenging due to their complex deformation response to the swimmer's motion. We experimentally show that a scallop-inspired swimmer with reciprocally flapping wings generates locomotion in granular matter. This disagrees with the scallop theorem prohibiting reciprocal swimming in a liquid when its inertia is negligible. We use x-ray tomography and laser profilometry to show that the propulsion is created by the combined effects of jamming and convection of particles near the wings, which break the symmetry in packing density, surface deformation, and kinematics of the granular medium between an opening and a closing stroke.

Authors with CRIS profile

Hongyi Xiao Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS) Harol Torres Menendez Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS) Achim Sack Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS) Thorsten Pöschel Lehrstuhl für Multiscale Simulation of Particulate Systems (MSS)

How to cite

APA:

Xiao, H., Torres Menendez, H., Sack, A., & Pöschel, T. (2025). Locomotion of a scallop-inspired swimmer in granular matter. Physical Review Applied, 24(3). https://doi.org/10.1103/52rv-8mpz

MLA:

Xiao, Hongyi, et al. "Locomotion of a scallop-inspired swimmer in granular matter." Physical Review Applied 24.3 (2025).

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