Hydrodynamic Efficiency Analysis of a Flexible Hydrofoil Oscillating in a Moderate Reynolds Number Fluid Flow

The paper focuses on the study of a semi-activated system, based combination two movements forced pitching and free-heaving motion. Therefore, quantifying with accuracy hydrodynamic forces applied hydrofoil seems to be crucial. This is investigated throughout numerical analysis dynamics. deformable structure oscillating in low-Reynolds number flow. In this study, animated by combined heaving considered. Various materials are studied, from rigid material more flexible one. A partitioned implicit coupling approach order consider Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) effects, while Navier–Stokes equations solved using Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) method. Both viscous incompressible elasticity equation finite volume loads acting structure. induced dynamics power coefficient investigated. It shown that flexibility has an effect its behavior. Indeed it increases load fluctuations horizontal mean force component. Furthermore, unsteady vortices around highly impacted deformations. Finally, deformations mostly improve device energy efficiency.