RUI: Comparative Experimental Hydrodynamics of Cetalean Flippers: Ecomorphology of an Aquatic Control Surface

鲸类动物（鲸鱼、海豚、鼠海豚）在水生环境中游泳时，用它们的鳍来操纵（转弯、潜水、浮出水面）和控制稳定性。鳍状肢的翼状设计可以决定它们的性能，并最终决定它们在动物生态中的用途。鲸类动物鳍的三维设计将通过计算机辅助断层扫描进行检查。鳍状肢将从死去的搁浅动物身上获得。至少有20种不同的物种将被比较，包括宽吻海豚、港湾鼠海豚、小须鲸和座头鲸。这些数据将用于构建桨叶模型，以在风洞和水洞中进行测试，以确定其水动力性能。长着短而圆的鳍的鲸类动物应该是非常灵活的，而长着高度锥形的三角形鳍的动物应该是快速游泳者。水动力数据将与形状数据一起用于定义生态类型。预计这些数据将有助于确定很少观察到的动物的习性。作为本科院校的研究项目，学生的教育将通过参与研究工作而得到加强，包括参加科学会议。这项工作的另一个影响是鲸类动物鳍设计在生物启发水上交通工具建设中的潜在工程应用。

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) use their flippers to maneuver (turn, dive, surface) and control stability as they swimming in their aquatic environment. The wing-like design of the flippers can determine their performance and ultimately their use with respect to the ecology of the animal. The three-dimensional design of cetacean flippers will be examined by CAT-scan (Computer Assisted Tomography). Flippers will be obtained from dead, stranded animals. At least 20 different species will be compared, including the bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, minke whale and humpback whale. These data will be used to construct flipper models to test in wind and water tunnels to determine their hydrodynamic performance. Cetaceans with short, rounded flippers should be highly maneuverable, whereas animals with highly tapered, triangular flippers should be rapid swimmers. The hydrodynamic data in conjunction with the shape data will be used to define ecological types. It is expected that this data will help to determine the habits of animals for which there are few observations. As a Research at Undergraduate Institution (RUI) study, student education will be enhanced by their involvement in the research effort including travel to scientific meetings. An additional impact of this work is in the potential engineering application of cetacean flipper design in the construction of bio-inspired water vehicles.