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A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of an undulatory mechanical fin driven by shape memory alloy

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Abstract

Many fishes use undulatory fin to propel themselves in the underwater environment. These locomotor mechanisms have a popular interest to many researchers. In the present study, we perform a three-dimensional unsteady computation of an undulatory mechanical fin that is driven by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA). The objective of the computation is to investigate the fluid dynamics of force production associated with the undulatory mechanical fin. An unstructured, grid-based, unsteady Navier-Stokes solver with automatic adaptive remeshing is used to compute the unsteady flow around the fin through five complete cycles. The pressure distribution on fin surface is computed and integrated to provide fin forces which are decomposed into lift and thrust. The velocity field is also computed throughout the swimming cycle. Finally, a comparison is conducted to reveal the dynamics of force generation according to the kinematic parameters of the undulatory fin (amplitude, frequency and wavelength).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, PRC

    Yong-Hua Zhang, Jian-Hui He, Jie Yang & Shi-Wu Zhang

  2. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore

    Kin Huat Low

Authors
  1. Yong-Hua Zhang
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  2. Jian-Hui He
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  3. Jie Yang
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  4. Shi-Wu Zhang
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  5. Kin Huat Low
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Correspondence to Yong-Hua Zhang.

Additional information

Yong-Hua Zhang received his B.Sc. degree in precision instrumentation and precision machinery from University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China, in 2003. He is now pursuing his Ph.D. degree in University of Science and Technology of China.

He has published over 10 refereed journal and conference papers. His current research is about biomimetic robotic fish fin using smart material (SMA). His research interest also includes underwater microrobots utilizing artificial muscles.

Jian-Hui He received her B.Sc. degree in computer science from China Agriculture University, Beijing, China, in 2003. She is now pursuing her M.Sc degree in Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China. Currently, she is working on the influence of electric field’s strength on the fabrication of micro droplet lens.

She has published 5 refereed journal and conference papers in recent two years. Her research interests include micro-optics and underwater robots.

Jie Yang graduated from the Department of Physical Chemistry at the Beijing University of Science and Technology, in 1969. He is currently a professor in the Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation of University of Science and Technology of China. He leads several research groups focusing on intelligent robots supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and 863 Project.

His research interests include intelligent robots, precision machinery materials, and high speed photography.

Shi-Wu Zhang received his B.Sc. degree in mechanical and electrical engineering and the Ph.D. degree in precision instrumentation and precision machinery from University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China. He is currently a research assistant in the Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China. He has been a research assistant in the Department of Computer Science, Hong Kong Baptist University for one and a half years.

His current interests include web intelligence, autonomy oriented computation, complex systems, and intelligent robots.

Kin Huat Low received his M.Sc and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo, Canada, in 1983 and 1986, respectively. After spending two years as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Waterloo, he joined the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of the Nanyang Technological University.

He is the author of five books and more than 90 journal papers in the areas of biomimetics, robotics, rehabilitation, impacts, power transmission systems, structural dynamics and vibrations. His research interests include robotics, vibrations, impacts, machines, mechanisms, exoskeleton systems, and mechatronics design.

Dr. Low is a member of IEEE, IASTED, SIAA and SiC-ToMM. He is also a member of several technical, conference committees, and journal editorial boards. He has won awards at the two IEEE conferences on the research work on robotics fish and powered exoskeleton, respectively.

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Zhang, YH., He, JH., Yang, J. et al. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of an undulatory mechanical fin driven by shape memory alloy. Int J Automat Comput 3, 374–381 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-006-0374-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-006-0374-4

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