On swimming in a visco-elastic liquid

Abstract

The velocity induced by a transversely waving infinite flexible sheet in a viscoelastic liquid is investigated by a method of successive approximation up to second order in the amplitude of oscillation of the sheet. The incompressible second-order fluid model has been used and it is found that the elastic property of the fluid augments self-propulsion (increases the induced velocity) in some range of Reynolds number (based on the phase velocity) and hampers it (reduces the induced velocity) in some other range with higher values of Reynolds number.