Characteristics of Vortical Jet Structures of a Hydrofoil

Abstract

Oscillating foil propulsion, the engineering application of fish-like movement of a hydrofoil, has received in recent decades as a possible competitor for propellers. The oscillating foil produces an effective angle of attack, resulting in a normal force vector with thrust and lift components, and it can be expected to be a new highly effective propulsion system. We have explored propulsion hydrodynamics as a concept in wake flow pattern. The present study has been examined various conditions such as oscillating frequencies and amplitudes in NACA0010 profile. Flow visualizations showed that high thrust was associated with the generation of moderately strong vortices, which subsequently combine with trailing-edge vorticity leading to the formation of a reverse Karman vortex street. Vortex generation was inherent to jet production and playeda fundamental role in the wake dynamics. And it was shown that the strong thrust coefficient obtained as the Strouhal number was larger.