Bio-inspired propulsion in ocean engineering : learning from nature

In this paper, the CFD technology widely used in biomimetic applications is firstly reviewed in a brief manner. We then present two types of computational models employed in studies of ray-finned fishes: single-fin model and body-fin model. The single-fin models capture some key features possessed by real fish fins, such as anisotropic property, flexible rays and actively controlled curvature. In the body-fin models, the fish motion can be either prescribed or predicted. Fish models with prescribed motions are usually employed to provide insights in the hydrodynamics while those models with predicted motions can be used to investigate the stability and maneuvering problems