Aerodynamics of Heaving and Pitching Foils in Tandem from Linear Potential Theory

What is it about?

Flow interactions between flapping wings may enhance global thrust and improve propulsive efficiency. We develop closed expressions for the thrust and propulsive efficiency of a combination of pitching and heaving foils in tandem based on the impulse theory for linear potential flow. The parametric regions of enhancement in the global propulsive efficiency resulting from the theory agree with recent experimental results for stable separation distances of two flapping wings in tandem at high Reynolds numbers.

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