A Computational Model of the Fluid Dynamics of Undulatory and Flagellar Swimming

We present a mathematical model and numerical method designedto study the fluid dynamics of swimming organisms. The fullNavier— Stokes equations are solved in a domain of fluidwithin which an organism undergoing time—dependent motionsis immersed. Of interest are both the dynamics of a single organismand the relationship of its morphology to its motility properties,as well as the collective hydrodynamic interactions of groupsof swimmers with each other and their environment. Biologicalapplications include spermatozoa motility in the reproductivetract, swimming of non-smooth filaments, and collective swimmingof algal cells.