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Hydrodynamic propulsion by large amplitude oscillation of an airfoil with chordwise flexibility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2006

J. Katz
Affiliation:
Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa
D. Weihs
Affiliation:
Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa

Abstract

The hydrodynamic forces due to the motion of a flexible foil in a large amplitude curved path in an inviscid incompressible flow are analysed. A parametric study of large amplitude oscillatory propulsion, with special emphasis on the effect of chordwise flexibility of the fin, is presented. This flexibility was found to increase the propulsive efficiency by up to 2% while causing small decreases in the overall thrust, compared with similar motion with rigid foils.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1978 Cambridge University Press

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