2005/12/17 by Frank E. Fish, George Lauder · 2 citations
Engineering · Environmental Science · #Biomimetic flight and propulsion mechanisms #Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems #Fish Ecology and Management Studies
paper · doi:10.1146/annurev.fluid.38.050304.092201
openalex publication_date 2005/12/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
What mechanisms of flow control do animals use to enhance hydrodynamic performance? Animals are capable of manipulating flow around the body and appendages both passively and actively. Passive mechanisms rely on structural and morphological components of the body (i.e., humpback whale tubercles, riblets). Active flow control mechanisms use appendage or body musculature to directly generate wake flow structures or stiffen fins against external hydrodynamic loads. Fish can actively control fin curvature, displacement, and area. The vortex wake shed by the tail differs between eel-like fishes and fishes with a discrete narrowing of the body in front of the tail, and three-dimensional effects may play a major role in determining wake structure in most fishes.