An official website of the United States government
In studying the transport of inclusions in multiphase systems we are often interested in integrated quantities such as the net force and the net velocity of the inclusions. In the reciprocal theorem the known solution to the first and typically easier boundary value problem is used to compute the integrated quantities, such as the net force, in the second problem without the need to solve that problem. Here, we derive a reciprocal theorem for poro-viscoelastic (or biphasic) materials that are composed of a linear compressible solid phase, permeated by a viscous fluid. As an example, we analytically calculate the time-dependent net force on a rigid sphere in response to point forces applied to the elastic network and the Newtonian fluid phases of the biphasic material. We show that when the point force is applied to the fluid phase, the net force on the sphere evolves over time scales that are independent of the distance between the point force and the sphere; in comparison, when the point force is applied to the elastic phase, the time scale for force development increases quadratically with the distance, in line with the scaling of poroelastic relaxation time. Finally, we formulate and discuss how the reciprocal theorem can be applied to other areas, including (i) calculating the network slip on the sphere's surface, (ii) computing the leading-order effects of nonlinearities in the fluid and network forces and stresses, and (iii) calculating self-propulsion in biphasic systems.
more »
« less
General solutions of linear poro-viscoelastic materials in spherical coordinates
The cell cytoskeleton is a dynamic assembly of semi-flexible filaments and motor proteins. The cytoskeleton mechanics is a determining factor in many cellular processes, including cell division, cell motility and migration, mechanotransduction and intracellular transport. Mechanical properties of the cell, which are determined partly by its cytoskeleton, are also used as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and cell sorting. Experimental studies suggest that in whole cell scale, the cell cytoskeleton and its permeating cytosol may be modelled as a two-phase poro-viscoelastic (PVE) material composed of a viscoelastic (VE) network permeated by a viscous cytosol. We present the first general solution to this two-phase system in spherical coordinates, where we assume that both the fluid and network phases are in their linear response regime. Specifically, we use generalized linear incompressible and compressible VE constitutive equations to describe the stress in the fluid and network phases, respectively. We assume a constant permeability that couples the fluid and network displacements. We use these general solutions to study the motion of a rigid sphere moving under a constant force inside a two-phase system, composed of a linear elastic network and a Newtonian fluid. It is shown that the network compressibility introduces a slow relaxation of the sphere and non-monotonic network displacements with time along the direction of the applied force. Our results can be applied to particle-tracking microrheology to differentiate between PVE and VE materials, and to measure the fluid permeability as well as VE properties of the fluid and the network phases.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1944156
- PAR ID:
- 10318634
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Fluid Mechanics
- Volume:
- 946
- ISSN:
- 0022-1120
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract In this paper, the nonlinear response of indenter–foam dampers is characterized. Those dampers consist of indenters pressed on open-cell foams swollen with wetting liquids. Recently, the authors identified the dominant mechanism of damping in those dampers as poro-viscoelastic (PVE) relaxations as in articular cartilage, one of nature’s best solutions to vibration attenuation. Those previous works by the authors included dynamic mechanical analyses of the indenter–foam dampers under small vibrations, i.e., linear regime. The current study features the dynamic response of similar dampers under larger strains to investigate the nonlinear regime. In particular, the indenter–foam dampers tested in this paper consist of an open-cell polyurethane foam swollen with castor oil. Harmonic displacements are applied on the swollen and pre-compressed foam using a flat-ended cylindrical indenter. Measured forces and corresponding hysteresis (force–displacement) loops are then analyzed to quantify damping performance (via specific damping capacity) and nonlinearities (via harmonic ratio). The effects of strain and strain rates on the damping capacity and harmonic ratio are investigated experimentally. The dominant source of the nonlinearity is identified as peeling at the indenter–foam interface (and quantified via peeling index). A representative model consisting of a linear viscoelastic foam and rate-dependent adhesive interface (slider element with limiting adhesive strength) explains the observed trends in peeling and thus nonlinear dynamic response. Possible remedies to suppress those nonlinearities in future designs of indenter–foam dampers are also discussed.more » « less
-
The eukaryotic cell's cytoskeleton is a prototypical example of an active material: objects embedded within it are driven by molecular motors acting on the cytoskeleton, leading to anomalous diffusive behavior. Experiments tracking the behavior of cell-attached objects have observed anomalous diffusion with a distribution of displacements that is non-Gaussian, with heavy tails. This has been attributed to “cytoquakes” or other spatially extended collective effects. We show, using simulations and analytical theory, that a simple continuum active gel model driven by fluctuating force dipoles naturally creates heavy power-law tails in cytoskeletal displacements. We predict that this power law exponent should depend on the geometry and dimensionality of where force dipoles are distributed through the cell; we find qualitatively different results for force dipoles in a 3D cytoskeleton and a quasi-two-dimensional cortex. We then discuss potential applications of this model both in cells and in synthetic active gels.more » « less
-
Mucus, composed significantly of glycosylated mucins, is a soft and rheologically complex material that lines respiratory, reproductive, and gastrointestinal tracts in mammals. Mucus may present as a gel, as a highly viscous fluid, or as a viscoelastic fluid. Mucus acts as a barrier to the transport of harmful microbes and inhaled atmospheric pollutants to underlying cellular tissue. Studies on mucin gels have provided critical insights into the chemistry of the gels, their swelling kinetics, and the diffusion and permeability of molecular constituents such as water. The transport and dispersion of micron and sub-micron particles in mucin gels and solutions, however, differs from the motion of small molecules since the much larger tracers may interact with microstructure of the mucin network. Here, using brightfield and fluorescence microscopy, high-speed particle tracking, and passive microrheology, we study the thermally driven stochastic movement of 0.5–5.0 μm tracer particles in 10% mucin solutions at neutral pH, and in 10% mucin mixed with industrially relevant dust; specifically, unmodified limestone rock dust, modified limestone, and crystalline silica. Particle trajectories are used to calculate mean square displacements and the displacement probability distributions; these are then used to assess tracer diffusion and transport. Complex moduli are concomitantly extracted using established microrheology techniques. We find that under the conditions analyzed, the reconstituted mucin behaves as a weak viscoelastic fluid rather than as a viscoelastic gel. For small- to moderately sized tracers with a diameter of lessthan 2 μm, we find that effective diffusion coefficients follow the classical Stokes–Einstein relationship. Tracer diffusivity in dust-laden mucin is surprisingly larger than in bare mucin. Probability distributions of mean squared displacements suggest that heterogeneity, transient trapping, and electrostatic interactions impact dispersion and overall transport, especially for larger tracers. Our results motivate further exploration of physiochemical and rheological mechanisms mediating particle transport in mucin solutions and gels.more » « less
-
The force response of cardiac muscle undergoing a quick stretch is conventionally interpreted to represent stretching of attached myosin crossbridges (phase 1) and detachment of these stretched crossbridges at an exponential rate (phase 2), followed by crossbridges reattaching in increased numbers due to an enhanced activation of the thin filament (phases 3 and 4). We propose that, at least in mammalian cardiac muscle, phase 2 instead represents an enhanced detachment rate of myosin crossbridges due to stretch, phase 3 represents the reattachment of those same crossbridges, and phase 4 is a passive-like viscoelastic response with power-law relaxation. To test this idea, we developed a two-state model of crossbridge attachment and detachment. Unitary force was assigned when a crossbridge was attached, and an elastic force was generated when an attached crossbridge was displaced. Attachment rate, f(x), was spatially distributed with a total magnitude f0. Detachment rate was modeled as g(x) = g0+ g1x, where g0 is a constant and g1 indicates sensitivity to displacement. The analytical solution suggested that the exponential decay rate of phase 2 represents (f0 + g0) and the exponential rise rate of phase 3 represents g0. The depth of the nadir between phases 2 and 3 is proportional to g1. We prepared skinned mouse myocardium and applied a 1% stretch under varying concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi). The resulting force responses fitted the analytical solution well. The interpretations of phases 2 and 3 were consistent with lower f0 and higher g0 with increasing Pi. This novel scheme of interpreting the force response to a quick stretch does not require enhanced thin-filament activation and suggests that the myosin detachment rate is sensitive to stretch. Furthermore, the enhanced detachment rate is likely not due to the typical detachment mechanism following MgATP binding, but rather before MgADP release, and may involve reversal of the myosin power stroke.more » « less
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- The DOI is not currently available.
