Swimming performance of biomimetic trapezoidal elastic fins

Using three-dimensional computer simulations, we probe the biomimetic free-swimming of trapezoidal elastic plates plunging sinusoidally in a viscous fluid, varying the frequency of oscillations and plate geometry. We choose the elastic trapezoidal plate geometry because it more closely approximates the shape of real caudal fish fins. Indeed, caudal fins are found in nature in a variety of trapezoidal shapes with different aspect ratios. Because of this, we perform our simulations using plates with aspect ratios varying from the cases where the plate has a longer leading edge and to plates with a longer trailing edge. We find that the trapezoidal fins with the longer trailing edge are less efficient than the rectangular fins at the equivalent oscillation frequencies. This is surprising because many fish found in nature have a widening tail. We relate this to the fact that our model considers fins with uniform thickness whereas fish uses tapered fins. Our results will be useful for the design of biomimetic swimming devices as well as understanding more closely the physics of fish swimming.