Stokesian dynamics simulation of the role of hydrodynamic interactions on the behavior of a single particle suspending in a Newtonian fluid. Part 1. 1D flexible and rigid fibers

As seen in textbooks of polymer physics, a linear polymer chain can be modeled as a filament of connected beads. This concept can also be adapted to fibers and, for example, flexible fibers can be modeled by considering a stretch force, bending and torsion torques with a non-slip condition between adjacent beads, following the particle simulation method. In predicting fiber motions and their relating theological properties, the importance of hydrodynamic interactions should be analyzed, so in this work we study the effect of hydrodynamic interactions on the behavior of a single flexible fiber under shear using Stokesian dynamics simulation with a 11N x 11N mobility matrix, where N is the aspect ratio of the fiber. Our results indicate that hydrodynamic interaction becomes significant when the fiber is highly flexible. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.