Thesis (S.M. in Oceanographic Engineering)--Joint Program in Ocean Engineering/Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution), 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-75). / Mean maximum start-up accelerations and velocities achieved by the fast-start specialist, northern pike, are reported at 120 ms-2 and 4 ms-1, respectively (Harper and Blake, 1990). In this thesis, a simple mechanical system was created to closely mimic the startle response that produces these extreme acceleration events. The system consisted of a thin metal beam covered by a urethane rubber fish body. The mechanical fish was held in curvature by a restraining line and released by a pneumatic cutting mechanism. The potential energy in the beam was transferred into the fluid, thereby accelerating the fish. The fish motion was recorded and the kinematics analyzed while using a number of different tail shapes and materials. Performance of the mechanical fish was determined by maximum acceleration, peak and averaged maximum velocity, and hydrodynamic efficiency. Maximum start-up acceleration was calculated at 48 ms-2. Peak and averaged maximum velocity was calculated at 0.96 ms-1 and 0.8 ms-1, respectively. The hydrodynamic efficiency of the fish, calculated by the transfer of energy, was 11%. Flow visualization of the mechanical fast-start wake was also analyzed. The visualization uncovered two specific vortex-shedding patterns; a single and a double-vortex pattern are described. / by Matthew Nicholas Watts. / S.M.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MIT/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39203 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Watts, Matthew Nicholas |
| Contributors | Michael S. Triantafyllou and Franz S. Hover., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution., Joint Program in Ocean Engineering/Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| Publisher | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | M.I.T. Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 75 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission., http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 |
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