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Volume 21, Issue 48 (12-2025)                   marineeng 2025, 21(48): 109-120 | Back to browse issues page

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Riyazati Y, Hejranfar K. Bio-Inspired Design and Hydrodynamic Analysis of an Exploratory Underwater Vehicle Based on Body Shape of the Longnose Spearfish. marineeng 2025; 21 (48) :109-120
URL: http://marine-eng.ir/article-1-1240-en.html
1- Sharif University of TechnologyAerospace Engineering Department
2- Sharif Universit of Technology
Abstract:   (421 Views)
The longnose spearfish, one of the fastest ocean predators and a member of the billfish family, can reach speeds of about 110 km/h. It possesses a slender and highly hydrodynamic body that reduces flow disturbances, minimizes drag, and enhances motion stability. In this study, the design of an exploratory underwater vehicle inspired by the overall body form of the longnose spearfish is investigated. First, the morphological and hydrodynamic characteristics of the longnose spearfish and the flow behavior around its general body shape are examined, particularly at its maximum swimming speed of 31 m/s, as well as at lower speeds for the validation with the available experimental results. Subsequently, using its general body shape and applying proper geometric modifications, an initial model of the underwater vehicle is designed and developed. The appropriate location, installation angle, and number of control surfaces compatible with the body structure of the spearfish are then analyzed. Numerical simulations are carried out for the designed bio‑inspired underwater vehicle at different speeds and the results are compared with those of a reference geometry having nearly the same wetted surface area. The numerical results show that the drag coefficient of the bio‑inspired geometry is approximately between %31 to %52 lower than that of the existing underwater vehicle geometry. This finding indicates that applying bio‑inspired design principles can significantly improve hydrodynamic performance and may contribute to the development of more efficient underwater systems and propulsion technologies for marine applications.
 
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Type of Study: Research Paper | Subject: Submarine Hydrodynamic & Design
Received: 2026/02/5 | Accepted: 2026/05/11

References
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22. Bainbridge, R., (1963), Body movements in swimming fish, Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol. 40, p. 23-56. [DOI:10.1242/jeb.40.1.23]
23. art, J.R., Chung, K.K. and Kim, S.H., (2017), Microscale and nanoscale surface characterization of marlin (Istiophoridae) skin: Implications for drag reduction in aquatic locomotion, Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, Vol. 12, p. 036005. [DOI:10.1088/1748-3190/aa52cc] [PMID]
24. Jones, R., Bhushan, B. and Hieronymus, T.L., (2016), Bioinspired design of surface textures for drag reduction on shark skin, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol. 482, p. 1-17.
25. Zhan, J.-M., Gong, Y.-J., & Li, T.-Z. (2022). Gliding locomotion of manta rays, killer whales, and swordfish near the water surface. Science Advances, 8(22), eabn6801.
26. Kato, S., & Wang, T. (2005). The effect of body posture on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a fish. Journal of Experimental Biology, 208(16), 3259-3267.
27. Hoffmann KA, Chiang ST. (2000) Computational Fluid Dynamics. Vol 3. Wichita, KS: Engineering Education System.
28. Sousa, J. V. N., Lima, A. G. B., Batista, F. A., Souza, E. C., Cavalcante, D. C. M., Pessôa, P. M., & Carmo, J. E. F. (2019). On the study of autonomous underwater vehicles by computational fluid dynamics. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 41, 471.
29. Long, J. H., Koob, T. J., Irving, K., Combie, K., Engel, V., Livingston, N., Lammert, A., & Schumacher, J. (1994). Four flippers or two? Tetrapod locomotor design and the evolution of the cetacean fluke. Journal of Experimental Biology, 194(1), 319-332.
30. Shadwick, R. E., & Lauder, G. V. (2006). Fish Biomechanics. Academic Press.

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