Abstract
Abstract We use computer simulations and an analytical model to study the relationship between kinematics and performance in jet-propelled jellyfish swimming. We prescribe different power-law kinematics for the bell contraction and expansion, and identify kinematics that yield high swimming speeds and/or high efficiency. In the simulations, high efficiency is found when the bell radius is a nearly linear function of time, and in a second case corresponding to 'burst-and-coast' kinematics. The analytical model studies the contraction phase only, and finds that the efficiency-optimizing bell radius as a function of time transitions from nearly linear (similar to the numerics) for small-to-moderate output power to exponentially decaying for large output power.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 100-133 |
Number of pages | 34 |
Journal | Journal of Fluid Mechanics |
Volume | 733 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- biological fluid dynamics
- propulsion
- swimming/flying
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Applied Mathematics