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Transport characteristics of finite-size microorganisms in turbulent channel flows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2025

Zhenyu Ouyang Open the ORCID record for Zhenyu Ouyang [Opens in a new window] ,
Gaojin Li Open the ORCID record for Gaojin Li [Opens in a new window] ,
Zhaowu Lin Open the ORCID record for Zhaowu Lin [Opens in a new window] ,
Jianzhong Lin Open the ORCID record for Jianzhong Lin [Opens in a new window]  and
Zhaosheng Yu Open the ORCID record for Zhaosheng Yu [Opens in a new window]
Zhenyu Ouyang
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Impact and Safety Engineering (Ningbo University), Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315201, PR China
Gaojin Li
Affiliation:
State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
Zhaowu Lin
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China
Jianzhong Lin*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Impact and Safety Engineering (Ningbo University), Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315201, PR China Department of Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China
Zhaosheng Yu
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics, State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, PR China
*
Corresponding author: Jianzhong Lin, mecjzlin@public.zju.edu.cn
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Abstract

The hydrodynamic behaviours of finite-size microorganisms in turbulent channel flows are investigated using a direct-forcing fictitious domain method. The classical ‘squirmer’ model, characterized by self-propulsion through tangential surface waves at its boundaries, is employed to mimic the swimming microorganisms. We adopt various simulation parameters, including a friction Reynolds number Reτ = 180, two squirmer volume fractions 𝜑0 = 12.7 % and 2.54 % and a blocking ratio (squirmer radius/half-channel width) κ = 0.125. Results show that pushers (propelled from the rear) induce a more pronounced decrease in the velocity profile than neutral squirmers and pullers (propelled from the front). This hindrance and the induced particle inner stress τpI positively correlate with the quantity of squirmers accumulated in the near-wall region. Notably, the increase in τpI primarily occurs at the expense of diminishing the fluid Reynolds stress τfR. Compared with passive spheres, a low volume fraction (𝜑0 = 2.54 %) of pullers results in a slightly enhanced velocity profile across the channel. In the near-wall region, the swimming direction of the squirmers shows no significant tendency with respect to the flow direction. In the bulk-flow region, pushers and neutral squirmers tend to align their axes more along the flow direction, whereas pullers exhibit a slight preference for alignment with the normal direction.

JFM classification

Biological Fluid Dynamics: Micro-organism dynamics Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows: Particle/fluid flow

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JFM Papers
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Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 1007 , 25 March 2025 , A72
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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