Tadpole, trout or tuna: the equivalence of animal and human aquatic undulatory locomotion.

Chris Connaboy, Simon Coleman, Carla McCabe, Stelios Psycharakis, Ross Sanders

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematics of human undulatory underwater swimming and compare the principle components of the propulsive waveform to those generated in the various modes of animal undulatory locomotion. Results indicated a similarity to a sub-carangiform mode of locomotion, with minimal undulation in the anterior aspects of the body and less than one wavelength present on the swimming body. A sub-cariangiform mode of locomotion suggests that swimmers’ arms are acting as inertial dampers, reducing dorso-ventral movements (pitch) in the anterior aspects of the body, and thereby minimising form drag and allowing a more efficient transfer of the propulsive wave along the caudal aspects of the swimmer.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUnknown Host Publication
EditorsHans-Joachim Menzel, Mauro Heleno Chagas
PublisherUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Pages75-78
Number of pages4
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 2007
Event25th International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports - Ouro Preto, Brazil
Duration: 1 Jan 2007 → …

Conference

Conference25th International Symposium on Biomechanics in Sports
Period1/01/07 → …

Keywords

  • Swimming
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Inertial recoil

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