Weakly nonlinear dynamics of a follower-force active filament in simple shear flow

Abstract

We employ weakly nonlinear theory to investigate how an externally imposed simple shear flow affects the onset of spontaneous dynamics of an inertialess active filament deforming in Stokes flow. The filament, clamped to a wall at one end, is subjected to a compressive "follower force" applied tangentially at its free end. By extending my earlier weakly nonlinear analysis of the shear-free case (J. Fluid Mech., 1007 A65, 2025), we derive a generalized amplitude equation governing the near-onset dynamics under weak shear. Analysis of the amplitude equation shows that, besides inducing a steady deflection, the shear damps the filament's intrinsic oscillations. This damping arises from a subtle nonlinear resonance between the shear and the intrinsic oscillations, scales quadratically with the shear rate, and is anisotropic---stronger in the flow direction than normal to it. Without shear, stable whirling states, where the filament tip traces a circular orbit in a plane parallel to the wall, and unstable planar-beating states are known to simultaneously emerge at a critical follower-force value, with circular whirling typically observed beyond this threshold. Shear breaks this degeneracy, driving a sequence of dynamical transitions: from circular to elliptical whirling, then to transverse beating (normal to the shear), and ultimately to steady deflection.