Airfoil-like mechanics generate thrust on the anterior body of swimming fishes.

ABSTRACT: The anterior body of many fishes is shaped like an airfoil turned on its side. With an oscillating angle to the swimming direction, such an airfoil experiences negative pressure due to both its shape and pitching movements. This negative pressure acts as thrust forces on the anterior body. Here, we apply a high-resolution, pressure-based approach to describe how two fishes, bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis Mitchill), swimming in the carangiform mode, the most common fish swimming mode, generate thrust on their anterior bodies using leading-edge suction mechanics, much like an airfoil. These mechanics contrast with those previously reported in lampreys-anguilliform swimmers-which produce thrust with negative pressure but

SUBMITTER: Lucas KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7229684 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature