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Passive wake differentiation by seal vibrissae in response to independently oscillating upstream objects
Sarah Dulac1, Hamed Samandari1, Banafsheh Seyed-Aghazadeh1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA 02747, United States of America.
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics
|September 9, 2025
Summary
Harbor seal whiskers can detect hydrodynamic trails from moving objects. This study shows artificial whiskers vibrate strongly in response to simulated object wakes, proving their sensing potential for biomimetic systems.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Biomimetics
- Sensory biology
Background:
- Harbor seals detect hydrodynamic footprints using their whiskers.
- Understanding whisker response to unsteady wakes is limited.
- Previous studies focused on static wake conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate wake-induced vibration (WIV) of a seal-inspired whisker.
- Simulate hydrodynamic footprints of moving objects using an oscillating cylinder.
- Assess whisker response to controlled, dynamic wake conditions.
Main Methods:
- Used a flexibly mounted, seal-inspired whisker model.
- Employed a forced-oscillating cylinder to generate controlled wakes.
- Conducted experiments across various reduced velocities and Reynolds numbers.
- Utilized volumetric particle tracking velocimetry (PTV), Q-criterion, and proper orthogonal decomposition.
Main Results:
- Whisker suppressed vortex-induced vibration in open flow.
- Whisker oscillated strongly at the upstream forcing frequency when in wakes.
- Demonstrated whisker's ability to detect and respond to dynamic hydrodynamic trails.
Conclusions:
- Seal-inspired whiskers can effectively detect unsteady hydrodynamic wakes.
- Findings support the development of biomimetic underwater sensing systems.
- This research advances understanding of mechanosensation in aquatic animals.
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