Spontaneous Synchronization of Beating Cilia: An Experimental Proof Using Vision-Based Control

Fluids

Mohamed Elshalakani¹  ChristophH. Brücker¹ 

[1] Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, City University of London, London EC1V 0HB, UK;

关键词: metachronal wave;    beating cilia;    self-synchronization;    geometric clutch hypothesis;    viscous coupling;    hydrodynamic interaction;   

DOI  :  10.3390/fluids3020030

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This article investigates the formation of spontaneous coordination in a row of flexible 2D flaps (artificial cilia) in a chamber filled with a high viscous liquid (Re = 0.12). Each flap is driven individually to oscillate by a rotary motor with the root of the flap attached to its spindle axle. A computer-vision control loop tracks the flap tips online and toggles the axle rotation direction when the tips reach a pre-defined maximum excursion. This is a vision-controlled implementation of the so-called “geometric clutch” hypothesis. When running the control loop with the flaps in an inviscid reference situation (air), they remain in their individual phases for a long term. Then, the flaps are studied in the chamber filled with a highly viscous liquid, and the same control loop is started. The flexible flaps now undergo bending due to hydrodynamic coupling and come, after a maximum of 15 beats, into a synchronous metachronal coordination. The study proves in a macroscopic lab experiment that viscous coupling is sufficient to achieve spontaneous synchronization, even for a symmetric cilia shape and beat pattern.

【 授权许可】

Unknown