Fluid motion induced by surface waves at low Reynolds number

TL;DR

This paper explores how surface waves induce fluid motion at low Reynolds numbers, with implications for micro-scale object displacement and microorganism swimming.

Contribution

It introduces scaling laws for flow generated by surface waves in viscous fluids, relevant to micro-scale biological and physical systems.

Findings

Derived scaling laws for flow velocity and pattern

Applied laws to micro-scale object displacement

Analyzed implications for microorganism locomotion

Abstract

We discuss the scaling laws for the flow generated in a viscous fluid by a wave propagating along a solid boundary. This has applications to the displacement of tiny objects on solids, under the effect of progressive surface waves and for the swimming of microanimals by undulation of ciliae along their body surface.