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Analyzing the effect of fin morphology on the propulsive performance of an oscillating caudal fin using a robotic model

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Date Issued:
2017
Summary:
A bio-inspired robotic underwater vessel was developed to test the effect of fin morphology on the propulsive performance of caudal fin. The robotic vessel, called The Bullet Fish, features a cylindrical body with a hemisphere at the forward section and a conical body at the stern. The vessel uses an oscillating caudal fin for thrust generation. The robotic vessel was tested in a recirculating flume for seven different caudal fins that range different bio-inspired forms and aspect ratios. The experiments were performed at four different flow velocities and two flapping frequencies: 0.5 and 1.0 Hz. We found that for 1 Hz flapping frequency that in general as the aspect-ratio decreases both thrust production tends and power decrease resulting in a better propulsive efficiency for aspect ratios between 0.9 and 1.0. A less uniform trend was found for 0.5 Hz, where our data suggest multiple efficiency peaks. Additional experiments on the robotic model could help understand the propulsion aquatic locomotion and help the design of bio-inspired underwater vehicles.
Title: Analyzing the effect of fin morphology on the propulsive performance of an oscillating caudal fin using a robotic model.
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Name(s): Fischer, Tyler M., author
Curet, Oscar M., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2017
Date Issued: 2017
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 71p.
Language(s): English
Summary: A bio-inspired robotic underwater vessel was developed to test the effect of fin morphology on the propulsive performance of caudal fin. The robotic vessel, called The Bullet Fish, features a cylindrical body with a hemisphere at the forward section and a conical body at the stern. The vessel uses an oscillating caudal fin for thrust generation. The robotic vessel was tested in a recirculating flume for seven different caudal fins that range different bio-inspired forms and aspect ratios. The experiments were performed at four different flow velocities and two flapping frequencies: 0.5 and 1.0 Hz. We found that for 1 Hz flapping frequency that in general as the aspect-ratio decreases both thrust production tends and power decrease resulting in a better propulsive efficiency for aspect ratios between 0.9 and 1.0. A less uniform trend was found for 0.5 Hz, where our data suggest multiple efficiency peaks. Additional experiments on the robotic model could help understand the propulsion aquatic locomotion and help the design of bio-inspired underwater vehicles.
Identifier: FA00004944 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Robotics.
Robots--Kinematics.
Artificial intelligence.
Biomimetics.
Bioinformatics.
Stereotypes (Social psychology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Links: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004944
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004944
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.