On the effect of elastic nonlinearity on aquatic propulsion caused by propagating flexural waves

TL;DR

This paper investigates how nonlinear effects in flexural waves can generate thrust in aquatic propulsion, challenging existing linear theories and providing a new explanation for experimental observations of wave-based boat propulsion.

Contribution

It introduces a nonlinear harmonic component into the thrust formula, demonstrating that nonlinear wave distortion can produce thrust where linear theories predict none.

Findings

Nonlinear harmonics can generate non-zero thrust in flexural wave propulsion.

The third harmonic's effect is significant for propulsion efficiency.

Linear theories like Lighthill's predict zero thrust for localized flexural waves.

Abstract

In the present paper, the initial theoretical results on wave-like aquatic propulsion of marine craft by propagating flexural waves are reported. Recent experimental investigations of small model boats propelled by propagating flexural waves carried out by the present author and his co-workers demonstrated viability of this type of propulsion as an alternative to a well-known screw propeller. In the attempts of theoretical explanation of the obtained experimental results using the theory of Lighthill for fish locomotion, it was found that this theory predicts zero thrust for such model boats, which is in contradiction with the results of the experiments. One should note in this connection that the theory developed by Lighthill assumes that the amplitudes of propulsive waves created by fish body motion grow from zero on the front (at fish heads) to their maximum values at the tails. This is consistent with fish body motion in nature, but is not compatible with the behaviour of localised flexural waves used for propulsion in the experimental model vessels. To overcome the problem of predicting zero thrust for the above vessels, it is suggested in the present work that nonlinear distortion of localised flexural waves may be responsible for generation of thrust. This hypothesis is explored in the present work by adding nonlinear harmonics of propulsive flexural waves to the formula derived by Lighthill for generated thrust. For simplicity, only the lowest (third) harmonic growing linearly with the distance of propagation was used. The resulting formula for the averaged thrust shows that, due to the effect of the third harmonic, the thrust is no longer zero, thereby demonstrating that nonlinear distortion of the propulsive flexural waves may be paramount for the existence of wave-like aquatic propulsion of small marine craft using freely propagating flexural waves.