Fish Biomechanics & Hydrodynamics
(Including Shark Skin Function)

The topic of fish biomechanics and hydrodynamics encompasses much of the work that we do in the lab. We have analyzed all fins, as well as body and tail function, in a diversity of species including hagfish; sharks; rays; sturgeon; eels; trout; and a diversity of spiny-finned fishes—most notably the bluegill sunfish.

Our past research includes:

• Analyses of the kinematics of fish locomotion
• Study of the electrical activity of muscles that produce locomotor movements
• Analyses of the material properties of fish fin tissues
• Hydrodynamic study of water flow over the body and fins and in the wake of swimming fishes

Work in the lab is primarily experimental; we study both live fishes and a diversity of robotic models of body and finned swimming. We have also undertaken a significant number of collaborative studies with colleagues who are expert in computational fluid dynamic modeling. Recently, our work in the laboratory has expanded to include understanding the complex skin structure of sharks and how it functions in locomotion. Shark skin has inspired a variety of man-made materials including the Speedo full body suits used by competitive swimmers, and riblet materials used on sailboats and wind turbine blades. In a February 2012 paper, we showed that the denticles which comprise the surface of a shark's skin may not only reduce drag, but could also enhance thrust during swimming. For the same paper, we studied the ability of the Speedo Fastskin® FSII material and a silicone riblet material to improve swimming speed.