We extend our recent phase-field [T. Biben and C. Misbah, Phys. Rev. E 67, 031908 (2003)] approach to 3D vesicle dynamics. Unlike the boundary-integral formulations, based on the use of the Oseen tensor in the small Reynolds number limit, this method offers several important flexibilities. First, there is no need to track the membrane position; rather this is automatically encoded in dynamics of the phase field to which we assign a finite width representing the membrane extent. Secondly, this method allows naturally for any topology change, like vesicle budding, for example. Thirdly, any non-Newtonian constitutive law, that is generically nonlinear, can be naturally accounted for, a fact which is precluded by the boundary integral formulation. The phase-field approach raises, however, a complication due to the local membrane incompressibility, which, unlike usual interfacial problems, imposes a nontrivial constraint on the membrane. This problem is solved by introducing dynamics of a tension field. The first purpose of this paper is to show how to write adequately the advected-field model for 3D vesicles. We shall then perform a singular expansion of the phase field equation to show that they reduce, in the limit of a vanishing membrane extent, to the sharp boundary equations. Then, we present some results obtained by the phase-field model. We consider two examples; (i) kinetics towards equilibrium shapes and (ii) tanktreading and tumbling. We find a very good agreement between the two methods. We also discuss briefly how effects, such as the membrane shear elasticity and stretching elasticity, and the relative sliding of monolayers, can be accounted for in the phase-field approach.

A phase-field approach describing the dynamics of a strained solid in contact with its melt is developed. Using a formulation that is independent of the state of reference chosen for the displacement field, we write down the elastic energy in an unambiguous fashion, thus obtaining an entire class of models. According to the choice of reference state, the particular model emerging from this class will become equivalent to one of the two independently constructed models on which brief accounts have been given recently [J. Müller and M. Grant, Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 1736 (1999); K. Kassner and C. Misbah, Europhys. Lett. 46, 217 (1999)]. We show that our phase-field approach recovers the sharp-interface limit corresponding to the continuum model equations describing the Asaro-Tiller-Grinfeld instability. Moreover, we use our model to derive hitherto unknown sharp-interface equations for a situation including a field of body forces. The numerical utility of the phase-field approach is demonstrated by reproducing some known results and by comparison with a sharp-interface simulation. We then proceed to investigate the dynamics of extended systems within the phase-field model which contains an inherent lower length cutoff, thus avoiding cusp singularities. It is found that a periodic array of grooves generically evolves into a superstructure which arises from a series of imperfect period doublings. For wave numbers close to the fastest-growing mode of the linear instability, the first period doubling can be obtained analytically. Both the dynamics of an initially periodic array and a random initial structure can be described as a coarsening process with winning grooves temporarily accelerating whereas losing ones decelerate and even reverse their direction of motion. In the absence of gravity, the end state of a laterally finite system is a single groove growing at constant velocity, as long as no secondary instabilities arise (that we have not been able to see with our code). With gravity, several grooves are possible, all of which are bound to stop eventually. A laterally infinite system approaches a scaling state in the absence of gravity and probably with gravity, too.

We present a continuum theory which predicts the steady state propagation of cracks. The theory overcomes the usual problem of a finite time cusp singularity of the Grinfeld instability by the inclusion of elastodynamic effects which restore selection of the steady state tip radius and velocity. We developed a phase field model for elastically induced phase transitions; in the limit of small or vanishing elastic coefficients in the new phase, fracture can be studied. The simulations confirm analytical predictions for fast crack propagation.PACS numbers: 62.20. Mk, 46.50.+a, 47.54.+r Understanding the day-to-day phenomenon of fracture is a major challenge for solid state physics and materials science. Starting with the early idea of Griffith [1], who realized that crack growth is a competition between a release of elastic energy and an increase of surface energy, various approaches have been developed to describe the striking features of cracks [2]. Usually, the motion of cracks is understood on the level of breaking bonds at sharp tips, and obviously theoretical predictions depend sensitively on the underlying empirical models of the atomic properties (see for example [3]). Plastic effects, however, lead to extended crack tips (finite tip radius r 0 ), and it is conceivable that for example fracture in gels can be described macroscopically. Then a full modeling of fracture should not only determine the crack speed but also the crack shape self-consistently.Recent phase field models go beyond the microscopic limit of discrete models with broken rotational symmetry, and encompass much of the expected behavior of cracks [4,5]; these models are close in spirit though different in details with respect to earlier approaches [6]. However, the scale of the appearing patterns is always dictated by the phase field interface width, and thus these models have problems in the sharp interface limit. Other descriptions are based on macroscopic equations of motion but suffer from inherent finite time singularities which do not allow steady state crack growth unless the tip radius is limited by the phase field interface width [7]. Numerical approaches which are not based on a phase field provide a selection mechanism by the introduction of complicated nonlinear terms in the elastic energy for high strains in the tip region [8], requiring additional parameters.It is therefore highly desirable to look for minimal models of fracture which are free from microscopic details and which are based on well established thermodynamical concepts. This is also motivated by experimental results showing that many features of crack growth are rather generic [9]; among them is the saturation of the steady state velocity appreciably below the Rayleigh speed and a tip splitting for high applied tension.Already in our previous publication [10] we emphasized a connection between fracture mechanics and elastically induced surface diffusion processes: the AsaroTiller-Grinfeld (ATG) instability [11] appears to be a good starting point for the quest f...

The description of surface-diffusion controlled dynamics via the phase-field method is less trivial than it appears at first sight. A seemingly straightforward approach from the literature is shown to fail to produce the correct asymptotics, albeit in a subtle manner. Two models are constructed that approximate known sharpinterface equations without adding undesired constraints. Numerical simulations of the standard and a more sophisticated model from the literature as well as of our two models are performed to assess the relative merits of each approach. The results suggest superior performance of the models in at least some situations.

A composite phase-field lattice-Boltzmann scheme is used to simulate dendritic growth from a supercooled melt, allowing for heat transport by both diffusion and convection. The phase-transition part of the problem is modelled by the phase-field approach of Karma and Rappel, whereas the flow of the liquid is computed by the lattice-Boltzmann-BGK (LBGK, referring to Bhatnagar, Gross, and Krook) method into which interactions with solid and thermal convection are incorporated. For simplicity, we have so far restricted ourselves to the symmetric model. Heat transport is simulated via the multicomponent LBGK method. Depending on the level of anisotropy and undercooling, dendrites or doublons are obtained in our simulations. Crystal growth in a shear flow is considered for different flow velocities and undercoolings. Doublons turn out to be robust against the perturbation imposed by a shear flow and display interesting dynamic behavior, quite different from that of dendrites. In addition, the influence of a parallel flow on the operating state of the tip of dendrites is studied. To complement information from selection theories such as the one presented by Bouissou and Pelcé, we measure selected growth characteristics of dendrites as a function of a flow imposed parallel to the growth direction, for intermediate undercoolings. The observed dependencies are compatible with power law behavior, if the undercooling is not too high. It is shown that for sufficiently large flow velocities, an oncoming flow can lead to tip oscillations of the dendrite and, consequently, to the generation of coherent side branches.

Force generation by actin polymerization is an important step in cellular motility and can induce the motion of organelles or bacteria, which move inside their host cells by trailing an actin tail behind. Biomimetic experiments on beads and droplets have identified the biochemical ingredients to induce this motion, which requires a spontaneous symmetry breaking in the absence of external fields. We find that the symmetry breaking can be captured on the basis of elasticity theory and linear flux-force relationships. Furthermore, we develop a phase-field approach to study the fully nonlinear regime and show that actin-comet formation is a robust feature, triggered by growth and mechanical stresses. We discuss the implications of symmetry breaking for self-propulsion.

The non-linear evolution of a uniaxially stressed solid is analysed numerically within a finite-element approach. There are two physically different situations: i) a solid in contact with a liquid, ii) a solid in contact with vacuum. We focus on the first case, which has been recently investigated experimentally (Balibar S., Edwards D. O. and Saam W. F., J. Low Temp. Phys., 82 (1991) 119). Crack-like patterns are found to develop even close to the instability threshold. In situation i), the grooves are more pronounced than in case ii). For relatively extended systems, we find superstructures emerging from a groove instability. The implications on fracture generation together with other outlooks are briefly discussed.

We analyze the problem of vesicle migration in haptotaxis (a motion directed by an adhesion gradient), though most of the reasoning applies to chemotaxis as well as to a variety of driving forces. A brief account has been published on this topic. We present an extensive analysis of this problem and provide a basic discussion of most of the relevant processes of migration. The problem allows for an arbitrary shape evolution which is compatible with the full hydrodynamical flow in the Stokes limit. The problem is solved within the boundary integral formulation based on the Oseen tensor. For the sake of simplicity we confine ourselves to 2D flows in the numerical analysis. There are basically two regimes (i) the tense regime where the vesicle behaves as a "droplet" with an effective contact angle. In that case the migration velocity is given by the Stokes law. (ii) The flask regime where the vesicle has a significant (on the scale of the vesicle size) contact curvature. In that case we obtain a new migration law which substantially differs from the Stokes law. We develop general arguments in order to extract analytical laws of migration. These are in good agreement with the full numerical analysis. Finally we mention several important future issues and open questions.