Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil

Biomimetic design for engineering applications may suggest the optimal performance of engineering devices. In this work the passive/pure pitching characteristics of a hydrofoil are investigated experimentally with and without a pair of biomimetic fin strips placed symmetrically on the two sides of t...

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Main Authors: Faraz Ikram, Muhammad Yamin Younis, Bilal Akbar Chuddher, Usman Latif, Haroon Mushtaq, Kamran Afzal, Muhammad Asif Awan, Asad Ijaz, Noman Bashir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomimetics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/7/462
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author Faraz Ikram
Muhammad Yamin Younis
Bilal Akbar Chuddher
Usman Latif
Haroon Mushtaq
Kamran Afzal
Muhammad Asif Awan
Asad Ijaz
Noman Bashir
author_facet Faraz Ikram
Muhammad Yamin Younis
Bilal Akbar Chuddher
Usman Latif
Haroon Mushtaq
Kamran Afzal
Muhammad Asif Awan
Asad Ijaz
Noman Bashir
author_sort Faraz Ikram
collection DOAJ
description Biomimetic design for engineering applications may suggest the optimal performance of engineering devices. In this work the passive/pure pitching characteristics of a hydrofoil are investigated experimentally with and without a pair of biomimetic fin strips placed symmetrically on the two sides of the foil leading edge. The work is performed in a recirculating water channel at low Reynolds numbers (Re) with a range of 1300 ≤ Re ≤ 3200. Using high-speed videography and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), the pitching characteristics and wakes are visualized. Passive pitching characteristics, i.e., the pitching amplitude and pitching frequency of the hydrofoils, are investigated based on their trailing edge movement. Significant improvement in both pitching frequency and amplitudes are observed for the foil with fin strips compared to the baseline simple foil. Comparing the pitching characteristics of the two foils, it is observed that the hydrofoil with biomimetic fin strips exhibits 25% and 21% higher pitching amplitude and pitching frequency, respectively, compared to that of the baseline at comparable Reynolds numbers. The initiation of pitching for the finned foil is also observed at comparatively low Reynolds numbers. The wake is also studied using time mean and fluctuating velocity profiles obtained using PIV.
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series Biomimetics
spelling doaj-art-327b7b5bf7f442a2a06ef13665a4271b2025-08-20T02:45:33ZengMDPI AGBiomimetics2313-76732025-07-0110746210.3390/biomimetics10070462Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a HydrofoilFaraz Ikram0Muhammad Yamin Younis1Bilal Akbar Chuddher2Usman Latif3Haroon Mushtaq4Kamran Afzal5Muhammad Asif Awan6Asad Ijaz7Noman Bashir8Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanDepartment of Industrial Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0300, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Mirpur University of Sciences and Technology, Mirpur 10250, AJK, PakistanBiomimetic design for engineering applications may suggest the optimal performance of engineering devices. In this work the passive/pure pitching characteristics of a hydrofoil are investigated experimentally with and without a pair of biomimetic fin strips placed symmetrically on the two sides of the foil leading edge. The work is performed in a recirculating water channel at low Reynolds numbers (Re) with a range of 1300 ≤ Re ≤ 3200. Using high-speed videography and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), the pitching characteristics and wakes are visualized. Passive pitching characteristics, i.e., the pitching amplitude and pitching frequency of the hydrofoils, are investigated based on their trailing edge movement. Significant improvement in both pitching frequency and amplitudes are observed for the foil with fin strips compared to the baseline simple foil. Comparing the pitching characteristics of the two foils, it is observed that the hydrofoil with biomimetic fin strips exhibits 25% and 21% higher pitching amplitude and pitching frequency, respectively, compared to that of the baseline at comparable Reynolds numbers. The initiation of pitching for the finned foil is also observed at comparatively low Reynolds numbers. The wake is also studied using time mean and fluctuating velocity profiles obtained using PIV.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/7/462biomimetic finpitching foilpure/passive pitchingPIVvideography
spellingShingle Faraz Ikram
Muhammad Yamin Younis
Bilal Akbar Chuddher
Usman Latif
Haroon Mushtaq
Kamran Afzal
Muhammad Asif Awan
Asad Ijaz
Noman Bashir
Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil
Biomimetics
biomimetic fin
pitching foil
pure/passive pitching
PIV
videography
title Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil
title_full Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil
title_fullStr Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil
title_short Impact of Biomimetic Fin on Pitching Characteristics of a Hydrofoil
title_sort impact of biomimetic fin on pitching characteristics of a hydrofoil
topic biomimetic fin
pitching foil
pure/passive pitching
PIV
videography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/7/462
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