Numerical Simulation of a Multi-Body System Mimicking Coupled Active and Passive Movements of Fish Swimming

• Main Authors: Jianxin Hu, Qing Xiao, Ruoxin Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
• Subjects: multi-body system; flexibility; fluid-structure interaction
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/9/3/334

A multi-body system model is proposed for the mimicking of swimming fish with coupled active and passive movements. The relevant algorithms of the kinematics and dynamics of the multi-body system and coupled fluid solver are developed and fully validated. A simplified three-body model is applied for the investigation of the hydrodynamic performance of both an active pitch motion and passive movement. In general, there is an optimal stiffness, under which the model swims with the fastest velocity. The effect of the damper can be drawn only when the stiffness is small. Comparing with the rigid tail, the flexible tail leads to a faster speed when the stiffness and damping coefficients are in a suitable range.