2023/10/12 by Kaare H. Jensen, Jensen, Kaare H., Anneline H. Christensen +1
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Engineering · Environmental Science · #Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Plant Surface Properties and Treatments #Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Tribology and Lubrication Engineering
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2310.08077
openalex publication_date 2023/10/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Exploring fluid-structure interactions is essential for understanding the physical principle underlying flow control in biological and man-made systems. Traditionally, we assume that the geometry is known, and from it, the solution to the coupled elastohydrodynamic problem is determined. Solving the inverse problem -- finding the geometry that leads to a desired flow -- has received comparatively less attention. Here, we present a strategy for solving inverse hydroelastic problems. Specifically, we compute the shape of a soft channel that yields a desired flow-rate versus pressure-drop relationship. The analysis is based on low-Reynolds-number hydrodynamics and linear elasticity. We demonstrate its usefulness in understanding intercellular transport in plants and the design of check valves. The sensitivity of the algorithm to fabrication errors and other limitations are discussed.