Tapered Flagellated Nanoswimmer: Comparison of Helical Wave and Planar Wave Propulsion

Flagellar propulsion is observed extensively in nature and has been proposed as a method of propelling nanoswimmers, which may possess a tremendous potential in medical applications. Mathematical models of the flagellated nanoswimmers show dependence of motion on multiple parameters like geometry and material of flagella, viscosity of the surrounding medium, and the mode of actuation. Though investigation of actuation modes has been done for uniform flagellated nanoswimmers, but its influence on tapered flagellated nanoswimmers is not yet addressed. In the present work, the two modes of propulsion, namely planar wave and helical wave, have been compared for a tapered flagellated nanoswimmer based on their propulsion characteristics. Parametric study with respect to elasticity of flagellum material and its actuation frequency is also analyzed. A tapered flagellum exhibiting planar wave propulsion is found to facilitate higher efficiency than helical wave propulsion for the same simulation parameters. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.