The low Reynolds hydrodynamics of bent rods precessing above flat planes

ORAL

Abstract

We examine the role of bend in rods precessing upright cones above flat planes in Newtonian fluids at low Reynolds. We experimentally document that the effect of bend in the rod is the creation of a novel set of nested tori on which fluid particles live: for straight rods, the tori degenerate into points in a Poincare section, while any amount of bend breaks symmetry and creates these tori. We present slender body asymptotic models which predict quantitatively and qualitatively similar behavior.

*NSF DMS RTG

Authors

  • Roberto Camassa

    • University of North Carolina
  • Elizabeth Bouzarth

    • University of North Carolina
  • Pavel Chtcheprov

    • University of North Carolina
  • David Marron

    • University of North Carolina
  • Richard McLaughlin

    • University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
    • University of North Carolina
  • Jonathan Toledo

    • University of North Carolina
  • Leandra Vicci

    • University of North Carolina
  • Longhua Zhao

    • University of North Carolina
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill