Soft streaming - flow rectification via elastic boundaries

Viscous streaming is an efficient mechanism to exploit inertia at the microscale for flow control. While streaming from rigid features has been thoroughly investigated, when body compliance is involved, as in biological settings, little is known. Here, we investigate body elasticity effects on streaming in the minimal case of an immersed soft cylinder. Our study reveals an additional streaming process, available even in Stokes flows. Paving the way for advanced forms of flow manipulation, we illustrate how gained insights may translate to complex geometries beyond circular cylinders.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of body elasticity on viscous streaming in the case of an immersed soft cylinder. It reveals an additional streaming process that is present even in Stokes flows. The gained insights pave the way for advanced flow manipulation and can be applied to complex geometries beyond circular cylinders.