On the path and efficiency of two micromachines with rigid tails (Q5961768)

Two models of locomotion of micromachines immersed in a viscous fluid are investigated. Typical micromachines considered here consist of a head and a tail. The tail would either oscillate in a vertical plane or rotate conically relative to the head, inducing a propulsive force and propulsive torque on the head. Using the boundary element method for solving the traction equations, the authors obtain the velocity diagrams, paths of machine and the range of efficiency for these models.