title: Corrections to the theory and the optimal line in the swimming diagram of Taylor (1952).
abstract: The analysis of undulatory swimming gaits requires knowledge of the fluid forces acting on the animal body during swimming. In his classical 1952 paper, Taylor analysed this problem using a 'resistive-force' theory. The theory was used to characterize the undulatory gaits that result in the smallest energy dissipation to the fluid for a given swim velocity. The optimal gaits thus found were compared with data recorded from movies of a snake and a leech swimming. This report identifies and corrects a mathematical error in Taylor's paper, showing that his theory applies even better to animals of circular cross section.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia, 122 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4746, USA. jach@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Joseph A C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: W Otto
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Friesen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D008433:Mathematics; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*