Design of an Experimental Apparatus for Analyzing the multi-DOF Fish Tail Movements in a Circulating Water Channel

Recently, various studies have investigated the use of biomimetic technology to mimic the propulsion of fish. This study aims to design a support structure for measuring the hydrodynamic thrust of a Thuniform-type robotic fish using a six-axis load cell. To ensure accurate force measurements, the structure must fix the robot in place and minimize vibration or force dispersion. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to assess structural safety through both static and modal analyses. Results confirmed that the design meets mechanical stability requirements and avoids resonance. Those results will support future indoor experiments with a circulating water channel (CWC) to understand biomimetic mechanisms.