Numerical investigations on the thrust generation of a manta-inspired foil

Abstract

In this work, we present a systematical investigation to understand the hydrodynamic characteristics of the manta-inspired foil. At the Reynolds number of 200, the thrust acting on an active deforming foil is numerically studied. Based on the numerical results, we reveal that the propulsive force of the manta-inspired foil is increased with keeping increase of the kinematic frequency and amplitude of the foil. In addition, it is found that the flexibility of the foil also plays a key role in affecting the foil’s propulsive performance. This work provides helpful findings for designing the manta-inspired underwater robots.