An Investigation into Ground Effect for an Underwater Biologically Inspired Flapping Foil

Abstract

The topic was whether there is a lift and thrust benefit to flapping an underwater, biologically inspired three dimensional foil near the solid bottom surface (so that it was in ground effect). Data proved in all sixteen experimental cases for varying Strouhal number and maximum angle of attack that the mean lift coefficient near the bottom was larger than that in the freestream. Only under certain kinematic conditions was the mean thrust coefficient larger near the bottom than that in the freestream. The largest useful change in maximum instantaneous lift force was 14%. Benefit was larger than 1 deg pitch bias difference at a zero mean lift coefficient. Largest change in mean thrust coefficient was 8%.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2014
Accession Number
ADA616721

Entities

People

  • Paulstephen Chierico

Organizations

  • University of Rhode Island

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coefficients
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Data Processing
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Fish
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Fluid Flow
  • Frequency
  • Ground Effect
  • Metal Plates
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Power Supplies
  • Strouhal Number
  • Three Dimensional
  • Underwater Vehicles
  • Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Mathematics or Statistics
  • Robotics and Automation.