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Scaling the propulsive performance of heaving flexible panels

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2013

Daniel B. Quinn ,
George V. Lauder  and
Alexander J. Smits
Daniel B. Quinn*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
George V. Lauder
Affiliation:
Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Alexander J. Smits
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

We present an experimental investigation of flexible panels actuated with heave oscillations at their leading edge. Results are presented from kinematic video analysis, particle image velocimetry, and direct force measurements. Both the trailing edge amplitude and the mode shapes of the panel are found to scale with dimensionless parameters originating from the Euler–Bernoulli beam equation. The time-averaged net thrust increases with heaving frequency, but experiences localized boosts near resonant frequencies where the trailing edge amplitude is maximized. These boosts correspond to local maxima in the propulsive efficiency. For a constant heave amplitude, the time-averaged net thrust coefficient is shown to be a function of Strouhal number over a wide range of conditions. It appears, therefore, that self-propelled swimming (zero net thrust) only occurs over a small range of Strouhal numbers. Under these near-constant Strouhal number conditions, the propulsive economy increases with higher flexibilities and slower swimming speeds.

JFM classification

Biological Fluid Dynamics: Propulsion Biological Fluid Dynamics: Swimming/flying
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 738 , 10 January 2014 , pp. 250 - 267
Copyright
©2013 Cambridge University Press 

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