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Dolphin Hydrodynamics

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Flow Past Highly Compliant Boundaries and in Collapsible Tubes

Part of the book series: Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications ((FMIA,volume 72))

Abstract

The research on the hydrodynamics of compliant walls was originally inspired by the dolphin. In particular, Gray’s paradox — the belief that specific power output of the propulsive muscles must greatly exceed the mammalian norm in order to achieve the observed swimming speeds if some form of laminar-flow control were not involved — has led to a great deal of research on the use of wall compliance for drag reduction. The full assessment of Gray’s paradox is a highly multidisciplinary undertaking. Accordingly, in this chapter we review all the aspects of dolphin hydrodynamics that might have a bearing on an investigation of Gray’s paradox. There are sections on the principles of bionics, the shapes of the body and fins, the structure and characteristics of dolphin skin, swimming speeds, kinematics and dynamics of swimming, boundary-layer characteristics, drag, drag-reducing behaviour, active flow control, energetics, technological developments, and the chapter ends with a brief re-assessment of Gray’s paradox.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrobionics and Boundary-Layer Control, Institute of Hydromechanics, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, 252057, Kiev, Ukraine

    Viktor V. Babenko

  2. School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

    Peter W. Carpenter

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  1. Viktor V. Babenko
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Peter W. Carpenter

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK

    Timothy J. Pedley

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Babenko, V.V., Carpenter, P.W. (2003). Dolphin Hydrodynamics. In: Carpenter, P.W., Pedley, T.J. (eds) Flow Past Highly Compliant Boundaries and in Collapsible Tubes. Fluid Mechanics and Its Applications, vol 72. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0415-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0415-1_13

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