Self-Propulsion of Immersed Objects via Natural Convection
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PhysRevLett.112.204501.pdf
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Author(s)
Mercier, Matthieu J.
Ardekani, Arezoo M.
Allshouse, Michael R.
Doyle, Brian
Peacock, Thomas
Date Issued
May 2014
Journal
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Mercier, Matthieu J., Arezoo M. Ardekani, Michael R. Allshouse, Brian Doyle, and Thomas Peacock. “Self-Propulsion of Immersed Objects via Natural Convection.” Physical Review Letters 112, no. 20 (May 2014). © 2014 American Physical Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Natural convection of a fluid due to a heated or cooled boundary has been studied within a myriad of different contexts due to the prevalence of the phenomenon in environmental and engineered systems. It has, however, hitherto gone unrecognized that boundary-induced natural convection can propel immersed objects. We experimentally investigate the motion of a wedge-shaped object, immersed within a two-layer fluid system, due to a heated surface. The wedge resides at the interface between the two fluid layers of different density, and its concomitant motion provides the first demonstration of the phenomenon of propulsion via boundary-induced natural convection. Established theoretical and numerical models are used to rationalize the propulsion speed by virtue of balancing the propulsion force against the appropriate drag force.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.204501
