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In contrast to other swimming modes, the motions of fins in the labriform mode can be categorized into the drag-based mode and the lift-based mode, which differ in terms of the thrust generation mechanisms. This variance in thrust generation mechanisms gives the labriform mode unique advantages in underwater propulsion. The term labriform indicates that propulsion occurs due to oscillatory movements of pectoral fins. Herein, to identify the key features of labriform locomotion, numerical simulations of a self-propelled biomimetic robotic fish with a Reynolds number (Re) of up to 3 000 000 in the labriform mode are performed. This study includes a detailed analysis of swimming performance and hydrodynamic mechanisms and their connection to three-dimensional vortex dynamics. Compared with the drag-based mode, the fish is observed to cruise faster and swim more smoothly in the lift-based mode. This study also finds that the pectoral fin can produce continuous thrust during one cycle in lift-based mode but can only generate thrust during the power stroke in the drag-based mode. By connecting vortex dynamics and surface pressure, the results show that the leading-edge vortices generated by pectoral fins are associated with most of the thrust production in both motion modes. The analysis of the vortex structure shows that the pectoral fins shed one vortex ring in one cycle of the drag-based mode and two vortex rings in one cycle of the lift-based mode. Our results provide new insights regarding the self-propelled swimming mechanism of biomimetic robotic fish with different labriform propulsion modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In maritime engineering, ensuring vessel stability remains a paramount concern. This study investigates the hydrodynamic response of Magnus anti-rolling devices, modeled as swinging or slewing rotating cylinders, under a ship's rolling motion. Through numerical simulations using the overset mesh technique and large eddy simulation, we analyze various parameters, including rolling angles, rotating speeds, and swinging amplitudes. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the ship's degree of freedom as substantial ship rolling significantly affects hydrodynamic coefficients on the rotating cylinder. We observe interesting dynamics during slewing motion, with the cylinder forming a spiral tip vortex. Optimizing the cylinder's rotating speed enhances the lift-to-drag ratio, particularly for small rolling angles. Furthermore, the effective lift generated during swinging motion is lower than during slewing motion, emphasizing the need to optimize the swinging amplitude, which is recommended to be no less than 170°. These insights advance our understanding of Magnus anti-rolling devices and offer practical guidance for improving vessel stability in complex maritime environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ship anti-rolling devices are an essential component of modern vessels. The core component of the Magnus effect-based ship anti-rolling device is a rotating cylinder, hereinafter referred to as the Magnus cylinders. In this paper, fully parametric three-dimensional modeling of Magnus cylinders was performed, and the design space dimension was reduced using the Sobol design optimization method while still providing accurate and reliable results. The Sobol method generates quasi-random sequences that are more uniformly spaced in the search space and can more efficiently cover the entire solution space. The shape optimization study of the Magnus cylinder was carried out in conjunction with the computational fluid dynamics method to find the geometry of the Magnus cylinder with excellent hydrodynamic performance. Critical design parameters include the diameters of the cylinder ends and the length of the cylinder. The hydrodynamic and flow field characteristics of Magnus cylinders before and after the optimization were compared. The results show that there can be multiple local optimal values for lift and drag of Magnus cylinders within the design space to increase the lift and decrease the drag. The Magnus effect primarily influences the position of the vortex-shedding separation point at the surface of Magnus cylinders and deflects the wake to one side. For the optimized Magnus cylinder, the distribution of pressure and velocity in the flow field is significantly different. This research forms the basis for improving the practical application of Magnus anti-rolling devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]