Kinematics and Hydrodynamics of Burst-and-Coast Strategy in Carangiform Swimming

In this work, burst-and-coast swimming hydrodynamics of a trout is studied using a combined experimental and computational approach. The associated kinematics is reconstructed from the output of a high-speed photogrammetry system. The hydrodynamic performance and wake structures are then investigated using an in-house immersed-boundary-method based flow solver and compared with those found in steady undulatory swimming. Results have shown that the carangiform swimmer uses a completely different trust producing strategy when conducts burst-and-coast swimming. Comparing to steady swimming, the trunk curvature of the fish has increased twofold during the burst phase. As a result, it contributes about 15{\%} of total trust during the swimming. Results have also shown that the thrust produced by the caudal fin has increased by tenfold during burst swimming due to larger flapping amplitude and pitching angle. Vortex dynamics analysis has shown that unlike the steady swimming, vortex rings formed during burst swimming result in a stronger downstream jet, which suggests a new thrust enhancement mechanism in carangiform swimming.