Abstract
In recent years, a swimming method of aquatic animals attracts attention as a high efficient propulsive one. Especially a dolphin is known as a fast swimmer. So we paid attention to a propulsive method by oscillating a tail flukes of the dolphin. A tail fin is the solo propulsive device of the dolphin. The structure and the mechanical properties of the tail fin affect the swimming behavior of the tail fin. The aim of our study is to develop a dolphin tail-like oscillating wing as a propulsor. The mechanical properties of the wing using CFRP sheets were investigated. The flexural rigidity of the wing was compared with that of tail flukes of the dolphin.
