An element-free Galerkin method which is applicable to arbitrary shapes but requires only nodal data is applied to elasticity and heat conduction problems. In this method, moving least-squares interpolants are used to construct the trial and test functions for the variational principle (weak form); the dependent variable and its gradient are continuous in the entire domain. In contrast to an earlier formulation by Nayroles and coworkers, certain key differences are introduced in the implementation to increase its accuracy. The numerical examples in this paper show that with these modifications, the method does not exhibit any volumetric locking, the rate of convergence can exceed that of finite elements significantly and a high resolution of localized steep gradients can be achieved. The moving least-squares interpolants and the choices of the weight function are also discussed in this paper.

Element‐free Galerkin methods

Meshless methods: An overview and recent developments

Cell motility in viscous fluids is ubiquitous and affects many biological processes, including reproduction, infection and the marine life ecosystem. Here we review the biophysical and mechanical principles of locomotion at the small scales relevant to cell swimming, tens of micrometers and below. At this scale, inertia is unimportant and the Reynolds number is small. Our emphasis is on the simple physical picture and fundamental flow physics phenomena in this regime. We first give a brief overview of the mechanisms for swimming motility, and of the basic properties of flows at low Reynolds number, paying special attention to aspects most relevant for swimming such as resistance matrices for solid bodies, flow singularities and kinematic requirements for net translation. Then we review classical theoretical work on cell motility, in particular early calculations of swimming kinematics with prescribed stroke and the application of resistive force theory and slender-body theory to flagellar locomotion. After examining the physical means by which flagella are actuated, we outline areas of active research, including hydrodynamic interactions, biological locomotion in complex fluids, the design of small-scale artificial swimmers and the optimization of locomotion strategies. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version) This article was invited by Christoph Schmidt.

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The hydrodynamics of swimming microorganisms

Microtubules are long, proteinaceous filaments that perform structural functions in eukaryotic cells by defining cellular shape and serving as tracks for intracellular motor proteins. We report the first accurate measurements of the flexural rigidity of microtubules. By analyzing the thermally driven fluctuations in their shape, we estimated the mean flexural rigidity of taxol-stabilized microtubules to be 2.2 x 10(-23) Nm2 (with 6.4% uncertainty) for seven unlabeled microtubules and 2.1 x 10(-23) Nm2 (with 4.7% uncertainty) for eight rhodamine-labeled microtubules. These values are similar to earlier, less precise estimates of microtubule bending stiffness obtained by modeling flagellar motion. A similar analysis on seven rhodamine-phalloidin-labeled actin filaments gave a flexural rigidity of 7.3 x 10(-26) Nm2 (with 6% uncertainty), consistent with previously reported results. The flexural rigidity of these microtubules corresponds to a persistence length of 5,200 microns showing that a microtubule is rigid over cellular dimensions. By contrast, the persistence length of an actin filament is only approximately 17.7 microns, perhaps explaining why actin filaments within cells are usually cross-linked into bundles. The greater flexural rigidity of a microtubule compared to an actin filament mainly derives from the former's larger cross-section. If tubulin were homogeneous and isotropic, then the microtubule's Young's modulus would be approximately 1.2 GPa, similar to Plexiglas and rigid plastics. Microtubules are expected to be almost inextensible: the compliance of cells is due primarily to filament bending or sliding between filaments rather than the stretching of the filaments themselves.

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Flexural rigidity of microtubules and actin filaments measured from thermal fluctuations in shape.

The mechanical properties (linear and nonlinear elastic and plastic) of two-dimensional cellular materials, or honeycombs, are analysed and compared with experiments. The properties are well described in terms of the bending, elastic buckling and plastic collapse of the beams that make up the cell walls.

The mechanics of three-dimensional cellular materials

Theory of Elasticity (3rd ed.)

: The presence of the liquid free surface has a significant effect upon the dynamic plate characteristics (frequencies) only when the surface is less than about one-half span length from the plate. The effect of the liquid free surface on the resonant frequency of a vertical surface peircing plate is highly dependent upon the relationship between the depth of immersion of the plate and the mode of vibration. The overall damping of cantilever plate vibration is increased significantly in water as compared with air. The results of this study would indicate that for those problem areas in the field of Naval dynamics wherein elastic plate vibrations are involved, and for which predictions of resonant frequencies and damping factors are derived, knowledge is either inadequate or unavailable. For cantilever plates, the present results should enable one to predict resonant frequencies in practical applications with some degree of confidence; but damping factors have been obtained only to within order-of-magnitude and to show trends. Clearly, similar information is very much needed for other plate geometries (i.e., skewed) and support conditions.

Elastic Vibration Characteristics of Cantilever Plates in Water

A mechanical model for representation of linear fuel sloshing with damping is derived by comparison and extension of available theoretical results in both translation and pitching without damping. Available experimental data indicates tha t the mechanical model representation is satisfactory for predicting total force response. A simple interpretation of the formulation also makes it possible to apply the mechanical model to the case of axial thrust acting in addition to the vertical gravitational field.

Representation of Fuel Sloshing in Cylindrical Tanks by an Equivalent Mechanical Model

Dynamics of contained liquids: A personal odyssey

: Similitude theory is applied to the problem of fuel sloshing in accelerated tanks to establish criteria for the design of model experiments It is found that dynamic modeling is possible even if liquid viscosity is considered, and the ranges of significant parameters and the selection of model liquids are discussed The results of experiments made on small models are compared with those obtained on full-scale tanks, for two different types of damping devices (Author)

H. Norman Abramson

Papers

Theory of Elasticity (3rd ed.)

Elastic Vibration Characteristics of Cantilever Plates in Water

Representation of Fuel Sloshing in Cylindrical Tanks by an Equivalent Mechanical Model

Dynamics of contained liquids: A personal odyssey

Simulation of fuel sloshing characteristics in missile tanks by use of small models