14 research outputs found
Influence of shear flow on vesicles near a wall: a numerical study
We describe the dynamics of three-dimensional fluid vesicles in steady shear
flow in the vicinity of a wall. This is analyzed numerically at low Reynolds
numbers using a boundary element method. The area-incompressible vesicle
exhibits bending elasticity. Forces due to adhesion or gravity oppose the
hydrodynamic lift force driving the vesicle away from a wall. We investigate
three cases. First, a neutrally buoyant vesicle is placed in the vicinity of a
wall which acts only as a geometrical constraint. We find that the lift
velocity is linearly proportional to shear rate and decreases with increasing
distance between the vesicle and the wall. Second, with a vesicle filled with a
denser fluid, we find a stationary hovering state. We present an estimate of
the viscous lift force which seems to agree with recent experiments of Lorz et
al. [Europhys. Lett., vol. 51, 468 (2000)]. Third, if the wall exerts an
additional adhesive force, we investigate the dynamical unbinding transition
which occurs at an adhesion strength linearly proportional to the shear rate.Comment: 17 pages (incl. 10 figures), RevTeX (figures in PostScript
A Quantum-mechanical Approach for Constrained Macromolecular Chains
Many approaches to three-dimensional constrained macromolecular chains at
thermal equilibrium, at about room temperatures, are based upon constrained
Classical Hamiltonian Dynamics (cCHDa). Quantum-mechanical approaches (QMa)
have also been treated by different researchers for decades. QMa address a
fundamental issue (constraints versus the uncertainty principle) and are
versatile: they also yield classical descriptions (which may not coincide with
those from cCHDa, although they may agree for certain relevant quantities).
Open issues include whether QMa have enough practical consequences which differ
from and/or improve those from cCHDa. We shall treat cCHDa briefly and deal
with QMa, by outlining old approaches and focusing on recent ones.Comment: Expands review published in The European Physical Journal (Special
Topics) Vol. 200, pp. 225-258 (2011