Li Wenxian, Ni Kai, Li Cunjun, Nan Chaoqiang, Su Shijie
Zhoushan Institute of Calibration and Testing for Quality and Technology Supervision, Zhoushan 316021, China.
School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, China.
Biomimetics (Basel). 2025 May 26;10(6):348. doi: 10.3390/biomimetics10060348.
Currently, the most commonly used method to study the hydrodynamic performance of manta rays is computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. In this research, we investigated the effects of kinematic parameters-specifically wave number, amplitude, and frequency-on the hydrodynamic performance of manta rays during the swimming process by constructing a 2D CFD model. First, we verified the reasonableness of the 2D simulation. Subsequently, a 2D simulation was used to study the hydrodynamic performance of manta ray pectoral fins, and it was concluded that using low-amplitude, high-frequency propulsion with an optimal wave number has better energy utilization. Finally, we conducted orthogonal experiments, which revealed that the thrust reaches a maximum value of 8.55 N at a frequency of 1 Hz, amplitude of 0.3 c, and wave number of 0.4, and the quasi-propulsive efficiency reaches a maximum value of 82.4% at a frequency of 0.8 Hz, amplitude of 0.3 c, and wave number of 0.4. In general, we can regulate the wave number to a range of 0.35 to 0.4, the frequency to between 0.7 and 0.9 Hz, and the amplitude to between 0.3 c and 0.325 c. This configuration yields a thrust exceeding 3.04 N and a quasi-propulsive efficiency surpassing 70.4%.
目前，研究蝠鲼水动力性能最常用的方法是计算流体动力学（CFD）模拟。在本研究中，我们通过构建二维CFD模型，研究了运动学参数（具体为波数、振幅和频率）对蝠鲼游泳过程中水动力性能的影响。首先，我们验证了二维模拟的合理性。随后，利用二维模拟研究了蝠鲼胸鳍的水动力性能，得出采用低振幅、高频推进且波数最优时具有更好的能量利用效率。最后，我们进行了正交实验，结果表明在频率为1Hz、振幅为0.3c、波数为0.4时，推力达到最大值8.55N；在频率为0.8Hz、振幅为0.3c、波数为0.4时，准推进效率达到最大值82.4%。一般来说，我们可以将波数调节到0.35至0.4的范围，频率调节到0.7至0.9Hz之间，振幅调节到0.3c至0.325c之间。这种配置产生的推力超过3.04N，准推进效率超过70.4%。
