Undulatory swimmers – a tail of two tails

Lisa Fauci Cambridge Fluids Network - fluids-related seminars 18 March 2024 1:00pm MR15, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge The motion of undulating, flexible `tails’ in a fluid environment is a common element in many biological and engineered systems. At the macroscale, we will probe the neuromechanics and fluid dynamics of the lamprey, the most primitive vertebrate and, hence, a model organism. Using a closed-loop model that couples neural signaling, muscle mechanics, fluid dynamics and sensory feedback, we examine the hypothesis that amplified proprioceptive feedback could restore effective locomotion in lampreys with spinal injuries. At the microscale, we will consider models of the journey of extremely long and flexible insect flagella through narrow and tortuous female reproductive tracts.