Mathematical description of the stimuli to the lateral line system of fish, derived from a three-dimensional flow field analysis. III. The case of an oscillating sphere near the fish

Abstract

The three-dimensional potential flow field of an oscillating sphere near a fish with an axially symmetric body was investigated mathematically. The spatial distributions of the stimuli to the lateral line system are derived from the flow-field analysis, taking into consideration the hydrodynamical interaction between the fish body and the flow of the oscillating sphere. This was done dependent on the location and the direction of oscillation of the sphere relative to the fish. The theoretical results are compared with measurements of the flow on the surface of a fish model.