Bio Inspiration of Fish Fins (Biological & Biomedical Sciences Research Paper)

Bio Inspiration of Fish Fins
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Abstract
Various fish species have shown unique skills in moving in both air and water. These skills are determined by many factors that include body types, fins, skin types, tails, rays, ray-like structures, and muscles. This study explores the morphology of fish fins and how they can be put into practice through bio-inspiration.
Introduction
Fish have exhibited excellent swimming skills throughout their evolution periods. Different fish swimming methods have various advantages in efficiency, maneuverability, and speed. These capabilities have motivated researchers to investigate how fish fins' morphology can be applied in material engineering, autonomous vehicles (AUV), and robotic devices.
Morphology of Fish Fins
Swimming vertebrae are classified into four classes [1]. Class A consists of animals that use caudal fins for periodic propulsion that is best suited for long-term swimming at high speeds. Class B contains a group of animals using caudal fins for transient propulsion, which is well suited for quick turns and starts. Members of this group usually have a large tail area and are -flexible. Class C, where the animals use paired fins to enhance slow swimming precise maneuvering. Class D includes the types of fish that only swim rarely. These unique types of fins are broadly discussed below.
Dorsal Fins. Dorsal fin portrays a unique structure in adult fish and is hugely significant in fish's swimming behaviors. Studies have shown that jets with strong lateral forces are produced by the dorsal fins, which, if unchecked, can cause the fish to roll due to their positioning above the fish's rolling axis. Some fish species like the shark have very specific structural properties of the dorsal fin that show many dermal fiber bundles extending to the fin from the fish's body [1].
Caudal Fin. The caudal fin and lateral movements of its body affect the fish's steady movements in straight locomotion and forward progression. More often, caudal fin is used to create forces and moments, which control fish's orientation. These take place through conformational motions and changes. The kinematic patterns and shape changes originate in the caudal fin produced by the fin rays. It has been widely proposed that teleostean fishes' perfection of caudal locomotion is one of the biggest achievements [1].
Pectoral Fin. Numerous fish species use the pectoral fins for axial propulsion during peak speeds. This type of locomotion is common with reef fishes. These types of fins are positioned synchronously to one another in forwarding swimming. To increase speed, the fish has to increase fin beat amplitude or/and frequency. The thrust production and fin motion biomechanics are determined by the motion of individual fin rays and muscle transmission force [1].
Anal Fin. The anal fin, which is a single structure, is positioned forward to the caudal fin. Its work is to stabilize the fish while swimming in a forward direction. Both anal and dorsal fins have been found to produce balancing torques in bony fish during steady swimming. The dorsal and anal fins are normally bent during maneuvers without showing critical curvature ...