Shapes of the fastest fish and optimal underwater and floating hulls

Abstract

A streamlined shape of the best swimmers removes the boundary-layer separation and ensures a laminar flow pattern. The fastest fish have a very sharp convex nose (rostrum), the purpose of which remains unclear. The bodies of revolution similar to their shapes are analyzed in steady underwater and floating motion. The sources and sinks were located on the axis of symmetry and above the water surface to estimate the pressure on the body and the vertical velocities on the water surface. It was shown that the flow patterns on a special shaped body with concave nose has no stagnation points and ensure small values of the water surface elevation. These fact allow diminishing the maximum pressure on the surface and wave drag. Special shapes with the sharp concave nose and negative pressure gradients on their surface could be parts of the low drag underwater and floating hulls.