Investigating a Bioinspired Inlet for Passive Flow Capture

Stingrays possess nasal geometries that enable enhanced flow capture despite inlets misaligned with the freestream flow and no active pumping mechanisms. This study investigated translating this bioinspired geometry to vehicle relevant shapes and higher flow speeds (Re = 2000-6000) through combined experimental and computational methods from CT-scanned stingray specimens. Bioinspired inlets display enhanced spanwise capture when transferred to vehicle geometries. CFD analysis identified critical components of this geometry driving fluid uptake. These results demonstrate the potential for passive flow enhancement in underwater sensing applications, offering operational advantages by increasing flow capture and reducing power consumption compared to conventional active pumping systems.