Development of a vortex generator to perturb fish locomotion

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-15-2017

Abstract

Knowledge about the stiffness of fish fins, and whether stiffness is modulated during swimming, is important for understanding the mechanics of a fin's force production. However, the mechanical properties of fins have not been studied during natural swimming, in part because of a lack of instrumentation. To remedy this, a vortex generator was developed that produces traveling vortices of adjustable strength which can be used to perturb the fins of swimming fish. Experiments were conducted to understand how the generator's settings affected the resulting vortex rings. A variety of vortices (14-32 mm diameter traveling at 371-2155 mm s-1) were produced that elicited adequate responses from the fish fins to help us to understand the fin's mechanical properties at various swimming speeds (0-350 mm s-1).

Identifier

85015814160 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Experimental Biology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.148346

ISSN

00220949

PubMed ID

28082612

First Page

959

Last Page

963

Issue

6

Volume

220

Grant

N0001415122234

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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