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Swimming of a waving plate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2006

T. Yao-Tsu Wu
T. Yao-Tsu Wu
Affiliation:
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the basic principle of fish propulsion. As a simplified model, the two-dimensional potential flow over a waving plate of finite chord is treated. The solid plate, assumed to be flexible and thin, is capable of performing the motion which consists of a progressing wave of given wavelength and phase velocity along the chord, the envelope of the wave train being an arbitrary function of the distance from the leading edge. The problem is solved by applying the general theory for oscillating deformable airfoils. The thrust, power required, and the energy imparted to the wake are calculated, and the propulsive efficiency is also evaluated. As a numerical example, the waving motion with linearly varying amplitude is carried out in detail. Finally, the basic mechanism of swimming is elucidated by applying the principle of action and reaction.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , May 1961 , pp. 321 - 344
Copyright
© 1961 Cambridge University Press

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