每年出版 4 期
ISSN 打印: 1065-3090
ISSN 在线: 1940-4336
Indexed in
FLOW VISUALIZATION OF BABY WATER STRIDER WALKING ON THE WATER SURFACE
摘要
In recent studies, it is reported that a baby water strider uses the vortex flow that occurs when it walks on the water surface as propulsion. This study focuses on elucidating the fluid kinetic energy and propulsion efficiency of the baby water strider, and analyzes the vortical structures that occur when the water strider walks on the water surface. Firstly, the speed of the water strider and fluid velocity field are respectively measured by image processing and PIV technique. Then a new method calculating the fluid kinetic energy and propulsion efficiency of a baby water strider is proposed. The results of PIV measurement reveal that dipolar vortices, generated by one driving stroke of a baby water strider, neither almost translate backwards nor exhibit hemispherical form. The propulsion efficiency of a baby water strider is in the range of 96−98%.