Hydrodynamic interactions in anomalous rheology of active suspensions

Abstract

We explore a mechanism of the anomalous rheology of active suspensions by hydrodynamic simulations using model pusher swimmers. Our simulations demonstrate that hydrodynamic interactions under shear flow systematically orient swimmers along the extension direction, which is responsible for determining the global swimming states and the resulting significant viscosity reduction. The present results indicate the essential role of hydrodynamic interactions in the elementary processes controlling the rheological properties in active suspensions. Furthermore, such processes may be the substance of the previously proposed scenario for anomalous rheology based on the interplay between the rotational diffusivities and the external shear flow.