Length and stiffness effects of the attached flexible plate on the flow over a traveling wavy foil

Flow over a traveling wavy foil attached with a flexible plate has been numerically investigated using the lattice Boltzmann method combined with the immersed boundary method. The influence of the flexibility and length of the caudal fin on the locomotion of swimming fish through this simplified model, whereas the fish body is modeled by the undulating foil and the caudal fin by the plate passively flapping as a consequence of fluid-structure interaction. It is found that the plate flexibility denoted by the bending stiffness, as well as the length ratio of tail and body, plays an important role in improving thrust generation and propulsive efficiency. It is also revealed that there exists a parameter region of the plate length and stiffness, in which positive propeller efficiency can be achieved. The effect of the passively flapping flexible plate on the pressure field and the vortex production on the wake is further discussed. It is found that when the length ratio of caudal fin and body is greater than 0.2, a reverse von Kármán vortex street occurs when the bending stiffness is about greater than 1.0, and a great thrust is generated as a result of a large pressure difference occurring across the flexible plate. This work provides physical insight into the role of the caudal fin in fish swimming and may inspire the design of robotic fish.