Journal of Bionic Engineering ›› 2020, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (2): 254-269.doi: 10.1007/s42235-020-0020-9
Impact of Caudal Fin Shape on Thrust Production of a Thunniform Swimmer
Alexander Matta1*, Hodjat Pendar2, Francine Battaglia3, Javid Bayandor1
- 1. CRashworthiness for Aerospace Structures and Hybrids (CRASH) Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo 14260, USA
2. Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, USA
3. Computational Research for Energy Systems and Transport (CREST) Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo 14260, USA
Impact of Caudal Fin Shape on Thrust Production of a Thunniform Swimmer
- 1. CRashworthiness for Aerospace Structures and Hybrids (CRASH) Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo 14260, USA
2. Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, USA
3. Computational Research for Energy Systems and Transport (CREST) Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo 14260, USA
摘要： Tuna, known for high endurance cruising, have already inspired several underwater robots and swimming studies. This study uses a biomimetic robotic tuna to investigate how different caudal fin planform geometries affect the thrust production and flow structures during Body and/or Caudal Fin (BCF) swimming. The robot was tethered to a circulating water tunnel, and swimming was simulated by moving water at a constant speed relative to the stationary robot. Three differently shaped caudal fins were tested, one rectangular, one elliptical, and one swept. Area, aspect ratio, and rigidity were kept constant between the three fins to ensure that the effect of caudal fin shape could be isolated. The fins were tested at three freestream velocities and four Strouhal numbers (St) so that comparisons between the fins could be made for a variety of swimming scenarios. The swept fin, which is the tested caudal fin most similar to one found on a fusiform swimmer, had the greatest thrust potential at high St, followed by the elliptical fin. The rectangular fin generally produced the least thrust. It was shown that in addition to producing the most thrust, the swept fin also best stabilized the leading edge vortex that developed during the second half of the stroke.