Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-9-2025

Department

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Abstract

Wave surfing is a multi-billion dollar industry involving both maneuverability and speed, yet little research has been performed regarding the highest lift-to-drag-ratio fin shape for these competing qualities. Numerical modeling and laboratory experiments were performed here to identify a bio-inspired fin shape that maximized lateral stability and minimized drag forces, in order to increase surfing maneuverability. Nine fins based on dorsal fins of real fish were tested. Both the CFD and laboratory experiments confirmed that the fin of the same shape as that of the Short-Finned Pilot Whale at an angle of attack of 10° had the greatest lift-to-drag ratios. Flow patterns around fins at a low angle of attack were smooth with negligible flow separation, while at any angle of attack greater than 25°, flow-separation-induced drag forces became excessive.

Publisher's Statement

© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics10040234

Publication Title

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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