Reciprocal swimming in viscoelastic granular hydrogels
Xiao H, Wang J, Sack A, Stannarius R, Pöschel T (2026)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2026
Journal
Book Volume: 1034
Article Number: A17
Abstract
We experimentally study a scallop-like swimmer with reciprocally flapping wings in a nearly frictionless, cohesive granular medium consisting of hydrogel spheres. Significant locomotion is found when the swimmer’s flapping frequency matches the inverse relaxation time of the material. Remarkably, the swimmer moves in the opposite direction compared with its motion in a cohesion-free granular material of hard plastic spheres. At higher or lower frequencies, we observe no motion of the swimmer, apart from a short initial transient phase. X-ray radiograms reveal that the wing motions create low-density zones, which in turn give rise to a hysteresis in drag and propulsion forces. This time-dependent effect, combined with the swimmer’s inertia, accounts for locomotion at intermediate frequencies.
Authors with CRIS profile
Hongyi Xiao
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)
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Xiao, H., Wang, J., Sack, A., Stannarius, R., & Pöschel, T. (2026). Reciprocal swimming in viscoelastic granular hydrogels. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 1034. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2026.11477
MLA:
Xiao, Hongyi, et al. "Reciprocal swimming in viscoelastic granular hydrogels." Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1034 (2026).
BibTeX: Download