We study the behavior of a Kirchhoff rod with intrinsic bend and twist immersed in a viscous, incompressible fluid at zero Reynolds number. A model developed by Sookkyung Lim on open free elastic rod was first analyzed and then extended to study the instability of a tethered elastic rod with a straight and helical configuration in various conditions. Then we explore the behavior of the rod in a loaded and unloaded condition prescribed with a time and spatially dependent curvature and twist. Numerical simulations are presented to show the results and insights gained into the instability of a Kirchhoff rod in Stokes flow. Results are discussed in connection with motion of filamentous structures in biological contexts.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Liu, Weifan

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042414-133413

Advisor

• Olson, Sarah D

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-04-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mathematical Sciences

Rights statement

• In Copyright