Stratlets: Low Reynolds Number Point-Force Solutions in a Stratified Fluid

• Main Authors: Stocker, Roman (Contributor), Ardekani, Arezoo M. (Contributor)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Physical Society, 2010-12-08T21:30:44Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

We present fundamental solutions of low Reynolds number flows in a stratified fluid, including the case of a point force (Stokeslet) and a doublet. Stratification dramatically alters the flow by creating toroidal eddies, and velocity decays much faster than in a homogeneous fluid. The fundamental length scale is set by the competition of buoyancy, diffusion and viscosity, and is O(100  μm-1  mm) in aquatic environments. Stratification can therefore affect the swimming of small organisms and the sinking of marine snow particles, and diminish the effectiveness of mechanosensing in the ocean.
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