Biologically-inspired bodies under surface waves - Part 1: Load measurements

Measurements have been carried out in a tow tank on cylindrical bodies submerged in proximity of traveling surface waves. Two bodies are considered: a reference plain cylinder and another cylinder containing a pair of wings (or hydrofoils) below the cylinder, not above. The latter body owes its origin to certain species of fish which has small wings for maneuverability. The wavelength of the surface waves (lambda) is of the order of the cylinder length (L) or higher (1 < lambda/L < 10). Temporal measurements of axial and vertical forces and pitching moments, phase matched to the surface elevation of traveling waves, have been carried out. The time periods of the waves and depth of water pertain to deep water and intermediate depth waves. The forces and moments exhibit characteristic phase relationship with water elevation. Towing affects only vertical forces in the speed range of a to 1 m/s. The effect of towing and surface waves an vertical forces is roughly additive. Within the low speed range of rowing evaluated, the effects of surface waves dominate those of towing. The presence of the hydrofoil and intermediate depth waves bring in some additional effects which are not well understood. In intermediate depth waves, a small plain cylinder may encounter a resonance with traveling waves which can be averted by attaching a pair of small wings to dampen pitching moment and make it speed invariant, although at a cost of increased vertical forces.