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

鲸类动物（鲸鱼、海豚、鼠海豚）在水中游泳时，用鳍状肢来操纵（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学方面的用途。鲸类鳍状肢的三维设计将通过CAT扫描（计算机辅助断层扫描）进行检查。鳍状肢将从死亡的搁浅动物中获得。至少有20个不同的物种将进行比较，包括海豚，港鼠海豚，小须鲸和座头鲸。这些数据将用于构建鳍状肢模型，在风洞和水洞中进行测试，以确定其水动力性能。鲸目动物短，圆鳍应该是高度可伸缩的，而动物与高度锥形，三角形鳍应该是快速游泳。水动力数据与形状数据一起将用于确定生态类型。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（RUI）研究的研究，学生教育将通过他们参与研究工作，包括前往科学会议，得到加强。这项工作的另一个影响是在潜在的工程应用鲸目动物鳍状肢的设计，在建设生物启发的水车辆。

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.