Free locomotion of a flexible plate near the ground.

The free locomotion of a two-dimensional flapping flexible plate near the flat ground is studied by the lattice Boltzmann method for fluid flow and a finite-element method for the plate motion. The fluid flow and plate deformation are coupled through the immersed boundary scheme. When the leading edge of the plate is forced to oscillate sinusoidally near the ground, the plate may move freely in the horizontal direction due to the fluid-structure interaction. The mechanisms underlying the ground effect are elucidated. Besides a moderate rigidity, it is found that an appropriate density ratio between the plate and surrounding fluid (M) can improve the propulsive efficiency of the plate. When M is relatively small, the lateral force is enhanced, and the input work is increased when the plate is near the ground; when M is large, the deformation of the plate is inhibited and the input work is decreased when the plate is close to the ground. Usually the closer the plate flapping is to the wall, the more efficient the propulsion is, provided that the tail of the plate would not touch the wall. On the other hand, when the plate is close enough (within a critical lowest distance), the efficiency reaches a plateau with the highest efficiency. The vortices pattern and pressure field are also analyzed to explore the mechanism. This study may shed some light on mechanism for self-propulsion of a flexible plate near the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]