Pendergast D R, Mollendorf J, Logue C, Samimy S
Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, School of Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Undersea Hyperb Med. 2003 Spring;30(1):57-73.
Underwater swimmers use fins which augment thrust to overcome drag and propel the diver. The VdotO2 of swimming as a function of speed, velocity as a function of kick frequency, maximal speed (v), maximal oxygen consumption (VdotO2) and the maximal thrust were determined for eight fins in 10 male divers swimming at 1.25 m depth in a 60 m annular pool. A theoretical analysis of fin cycles was also performed. VdotO2 increased as a second order polynomial as a function of velocity; VdotO2 = 0.045 + 1.65B V + 1.66 (2) V2 (r2 = 0.997), VdotO2 = 0.25 + 1.03 V + 1.83 V2 (r2 = 0.997) and VdotO2 = -0.15 + 2.26 V + 1.49 V2 (r2 = 0.997), for least, average and most economical fins respectively. Kick frequency increased linearly with velocity and had a unique movement path (signature), giving theoretical values that agreed with the measured thrust, drag and efficiency. In conclusion, virtually all thrust comes from the downward power stroke, with rigid fins kicked deep (high drag), while flexible fins are kicked less deep but with higher frequency (low efficiency). Kick depth and frequency explain the performance of the eight tested fins, and should be optimized to enhance diver performance.
水下游泳者使用脚蹼来增加推力，以克服阻力并推动潜水者前进。在一个60米环形泳池中，10名男性潜水者在1.25米深度游泳时，测定了8种脚蹼的游泳耗氧量（VdotO2）与速度的函数关系、速度与踢水频率的函数关系、最大速度（v）、最大耗氧量（VdotO2）以及最大推力。还对脚蹼划水周期进行了理论分析。VdotO2作为速度的函数呈二阶多项式增加；对于最省力、平均和最不省力的脚蹼，VdotO2分别为：VdotO2 = 0.045 + 1.65B V + 1.66 (2) V2 （r2 = 0.997），VdotO2 = 0.25 + 1.03 V + 1.83 V2 （r2 = 0.997），VdotO2 = -0.15 + 2.26 V + 1.49 V2 （r2 = 0.997）。踢水频率随速度线性增加，且有独特的运动路径（特征），得出的理论值与测得的推力、阻力和效率相符。总之，几乎所有的推力都来自向下的动力划水，刚性脚蹼踢水深度大（阻力大），而柔性脚蹼踢水深度小但频率高（效率低）。踢水深度和频率解释了所测试的8种脚蹼的性能，应进行优化以提高潜水者的表现。
