2P2-H24 Study on Propulsive Performance of Oscillating Wing Modeled on Dolphin's Tail Flukes

A propulsion system with a Dolphin-like fin stroke has been proposed as a novel propulsion system with higher propulsive efficiency and higher safety than a conventional screw propeller As a result, it promotes to the improvement of environmental problems. It is known that a dolphin swims fast and freely in water. The propulsive performance and the kinetic performance of the dolphin are one of great concern among researchers. We paid attention to the dolphin's tail flukes which has an important role to generate propulsive force. So the experiments on both the propulsive force of the outboard propulsor with the oscillating wing which is similar to a real tail flukes of dolphin in shape and the velocity of a small boat equipped with the outboard propulsor were carried out. The propulsive performance of the wing like a dolphin's tail was discussed compared with rectangular wings.