Hydrodynamics of Free-Boundary Flows

Book excerpt: The hydrodynamics of a body moving in a fluid at high velocities with the formation of free boundaries is studied. The general physical flow properties at the front of the body, flows with developed cavitation, planing and other situations where allowance must be made for free boundary effects and surface discontinuity are considered. The general equations of the dynamics of a thin body are solved by a formula for computing the force due to vibrations of rigid and flexible thin bodies. The results for a flexible body are used to explain the swimming mechanism of fish and sea mammals.