Fluid-structure investigation of a squid-inspired swimmer

We propose a novel underwater propulsion system inspired by the jet-propelled locomotion mechanism of squids and other cephalopods. A two-dimensional nonaxisymmetric fluid-structural interaction model is developed to illustrate the physical mechanisms involved in the propulsive performance of this design. The model includes a deformable body with a pressure chamber undergoing periodic inflation and deflation motions enabled by attached springs and a nozzle through which the chamber is refilled and discharged (to form a jet). By using an immersed-boundary algorithm, we numerically investigate the dynamics of this system in the tethered mode. The thrust generation is found to increase with the frequency of body deformation, whereas the efficiency reaches a peak at a certain frequency. Examinations of the surrounding flow field illustrate a combination of vortices shed from the body and the nozzle. The optimal efficiency is reached when the nozzle-generated vortices start to dominate the wake. Our simulations also suggest that steady-state response can only be sustained for a few cycles before the wake is disturbed by a symmetry-breaking instability, which significantly affects the propulsive performance. Special strategies are needed to achieve stable long-distance swimming.