Swimming of a two-dimensional flexible plate near a solid boundary

The basic principle of fish propulsion with the presence of a solid boundary was studied. The problem of a two-dimensional potential flow over a flexible plate swimming adjacent to a planar wall is treated. This is solved by applying the method of images. The motion of the flexible plate consists of a progressive wave traveling along the body of the plate. The energy imparted to the fluid, the power required and the thrust of the plate are calculated. It was found that the presence of the planar wall affected the lift of the plate; such that the lift of the plate will depend on the distance between the plate and the wall. Finally the total circulation around the plate and its image was calculated in agreement with the theorem of Joukowski.