Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2008

DOI

10.1088/1748-3182/3/1/014001

Publication Title

Bioinspiration & Biomimetics

Volume

3

Issue

1

Pages

014001 (7pp)

Abstract

The marine boxfishes have rigid keeled exteriors (carapaces) unlike most fishes, yet exhibit high stability, high maneuverability and relatively low drag given their large cross-sectional area. These characteristics lend themselves well to bioinspired design. Based on previous stereolithographic boxfish model experiments, it was determined that vortical flows develop around the carapace keels, producing self-correcting forces that facilitate swimming in smooth trajectories. To determine if similar self-correcting flows occur in live, actively swimming boxfishes, two species of boxfishes (Ostracion meleagris and Lactophrys triqueter) were induced to swim against currents in a water tunnel, while flows around the fishes were quantified using digital particle image velocimetry. Significant pitch events were rare and short lived in the fishes examined. When these events were observed, spiral flows around the keels qualitatively similar to those observed around models were always present, with greater vortex circulation occurring as pitch angles deviated from 0°. Vortex circulation was higher in live fishes than models presumably because of pectoral fin interaction with the keel-induced flows. The ability of boxfishes to modify their underlying self-correcting system with powered fin control is important for achieving high levels of both stability and maneuverability. Although the challenges of performing stability and maneuverability research on fishes are significant, the results of this study together with future studies employing innovative new approaches promise to provide valuable inspiration for the designers of bioinspired aquatic vehicles.

Rights

Web of Science: "Free full-text from publisher."

Original Publication Citation

Bartol, I. K., Gordon, M. S., Webb, P., Weihs, D., & Gharib, M. (2008). Evidence of self-correcting spiral flows in swimming boxfishes. Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 3(1), 014001. doi:10.1088/1748-3182/3/1/014001

Download

Share

 
COinS