A finite element method for simulating soft active non-shearable rods immersed in generalized Newtonian fluids

We propose a finite element method for simulating one-dimensional solid models with thickness and length that move experience large deformations while immersed in generalized Newtonian fluids. The is oriented towards applications involving microscopic devices or organisms the soft-bio-matter realm. By considering strain energy of may explicitly depend on time, we incorporate mechanism active response. solids are modeled as Cosserat rods, detailed formulation being provided planar non-shearable case. discretization adopts Hermite elements rod two-dimensional low-order Lagrange fluid’s velocity pressure. fluid mesh boundary-fitted, remeshing at each time step. Several marching schemes studied, which semi-implicit scheme emerges most effective. demonstrated very challenging examples: roll-up to circular shape later sudden release, interaction soft jet self-locomotion sperm-like rod. article includes description code implements Firedrake library.