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Immersed Boundary Simulations of Active Fluid Droplets
Carl A Whitfield1, Rhoda J Hawkins1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom, S3 7RH.
Plos One
|September 9, 2016
Summary
Numerical simulations reveal active fluid droplets exhibit complex behaviors like cell motility and division. These findings aid in understanding active matter dynamics and confinement effects.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Fluid Dynamics
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Active fluid systems exhibit complex dynamics.
- Understanding self-organization in active matter is crucial.
- Numerical simulations provide insights into these phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate active fluid droplets in 2D.
- To investigate symmetry breaking and steady-state dynamics.
- To model active droplet behavior for cell-like functions.
Main Methods:
- Immersed Boundary method for fluid-structure interaction.
- Lagrangian mesh to represent droplet interfaces.
- Simulations of active isotropic and polar fluid systems.
Main Results:
- Observed spontaneous symmetry breaking in active droplets.
- Demonstrated steady-state dynamics mimicking cell motility and division.
- Revealed complex feedback mechanisms within minimal degrees of freedom.
Conclusions:
- Simulations offer a quantitative approach to active fluid dynamics.
- The models can be adapted to study confinement effects.
- These systems provide insights into fundamental self-organization principles.
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