Hydrodynamic lift on bound vesicles

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of hydrodynamic lift on bound vesicles under shear flow, revealing how lateral forces and inclination lead to unbinding at a critical shear rate, consistent with experimental observations.

Contribution

It combines lubrication analysis and scaling approaches to quantify lift and unbinding behavior of vesicles under shear flow, providing new insights into their hydrodynamic interactions.

Findings

Inclination causes significant lift due to combined motions.

Vesicles unbind at a critical shear rate.

Estimates agree with experimental data.

Abstract

Bound vesicles subject to lateral forces such as arising from shear flow are investigated theoretically by combining a lubrication analysis of the bound part with a scaling approach to the global motion. A minor inclination of the bound part leads to significant lift due to the additive effects of lateral and tank-treading motions. With increasing shear rate, the vesicle unbinds from the substrate at a critical value. Estimates are in agreement with recent experimental data.