Settling and swimming of flexible fluid-lubricated foils.
We study the dynamics of a flexible foil immersed in a fluid and moving close to a rigid wall. Lubrication theory allows us to derive equations of motion for the foil and thus examine the passive settling and the active swimming of a foil. This also allows us to partly answer the long-standing question in cartoon physics--can carpets fly? Our analysis suggests a region in parameter space where one may realize this dream and move the virtual towards reality.
Argentina
M
M
Université de Nice, Institut du Non-Linéaire de Nice, 1361 Routes des Lucioles, 06560 Valbonne, France.
Skotheim
J
J
Mahadevan
L
L