Stratlets: Low Reynolds Number Point-Force Solutions in a Stratified Fluid
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Stocker_Stratlets low.pdf
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1.44 MB
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Checksum (MD5)
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Author(s)
Stocker, Roman
Ardekani, Arezoo M.
Date Issued
August 2010
Journal
Physical review letters
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Ardekani, A., and R. Stocker. “Stratlets: Low Reynolds Number Point-Force Solutions in a Stratified Fluid.” Physical Review Letters 105.8 (2010): n. pag. © 2010 The American Physical Society
Version
Final published version
Abstract
We present fundamental solutions of low Reynolds number flows in a stratified fluid, including the case of a point force (Stokeslet) and a doublet. Stratification dramatically alters the flow by creating toroidal eddies, and velocity decays much faster than in a homogeneous fluid. The fundamental length scale is set by the competition of buoyancy, diffusion and viscosity, and is O(100 μm–1 mm) in aquatic environments. Stratification can therefore affect the swimming of small organisms and the sinking of marine snow particles, and diminish the effectiveness of mechanosensing in the ocean.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.084502
