A model of a propulsion mechanism for a ship is proposed, using a novel and efficient lift generation mechanism found by Weis-Fogh. The model consists of a wing (or two wings) in a square channel, and the motion of the wing has three stages : opening, translating, and closing and their repeated cycles. Each stage of the motion of the wing is analyzed by assuming that the flow is a potential flow and using conformal mapping. The circulation around the wing in each stage are calculated. The conditions to make this propulsion mechanism work efficiently are established and the applicability of this mechanism to actual ships is predicted to be good.
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Tsutahara et al. (1986) studied this question.
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