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A Unified Introduction to Fluid Mechanics of Flying and Swimming at High Reynolds Number

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Abstract

Modeling the flow around a deformable and moving surface is required to calculate the forces exerted by a swimming or flying animal on the surrounding fluid. Assuming that viscosity plays a minor role, linear potential models can be used. These models derived from unsteady airfoil theory are usually divided in two categories depending on the aspect ratio of the moving surface: for small aspect ratios, slender-body theory applies while for large aspect ratios two-dimensional or lifting-line theory is used. This paper aims at presenting these models with a unified approach. These potential models being analytical, they allow fast computations and can therefore be used for optimization or control.

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Acknowledgement

This work was sponsored by the French ANR under the project ANR-06-JCJC-0087.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRPHE, CNRS & Aix-Marseille Université, 49 rue Joliot Curie, 13013, Marseille, France

    C. Eloy, L. Duchemin & L. Schouveiler

  2. UME, ENSTA, Chemin de la Hunière, 91761, Palaiseau, France

    O. Doaré

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  1. C. Eloy
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  2. O. Doaré
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  3. L. Duchemin
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  4. L. Schouveiler
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Correspondence to C. Eloy.

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Eloy, C., Doaré, O., Duchemin, L. et al. A Unified Introduction to Fluid Mechanics of Flying and Swimming at High Reynolds Number. Exp Mech 50, 1361–1366 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-009-9289-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11340-009-9289-7

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