title: Experimental simulation of the thrust phases of fast-start swimming of fish
abstract: Measurements of the thrust and forward impulse of a simulated fish tail and mathematical modeling indicate that the propulsive forces of fast-start swimming can be optimized by three different effects: (i) exactly inverting the tail tip vortex that is generated with the initial stroke, (ii) using a moderately flexible tail, and (iii) introducing a specific delay between the initial stroke and the return stroke. Experiments were performed with a new computer-controlled fish-tail simulation apparatus, and the results confirm the theoretical predictions of a previous study.
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ahlborn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harper