Nonlinear Muscles, Passive Viscoelasticity and Body Taper Conspire To Create Neuromechanical Phase Lags in Anguilliform Swimmers
2008
Modeling Swimming in Eels and Lampreys
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): McMillen T., Williams T., Holmes P.
Hypothesis
The study investigates the differences in speeds between muscle activation waves and mechanical waves of body curvature in anguilliform swimmers.
Conclusion
The difference in wave speeds is primarily due to passive viscoelasticity, body geometry, and nonlinear muscle properties.
Supporting Evidence
- The model shows that muscle activation waves travel faster than mechanical waves of body curvature.
- Viscoelastic damping and body taper are crucial for the observed differences in wave speeds.
- Nonlinear muscle properties contribute to energy efficiency during swimming.
Takeaway
This study looks at how eels and lampreys swim and why their muscle signals and body movements don't match up perfectly.
Methodology
The study uses a computational model to simulate anguilliform swimming, incorporating muscle dynamics, body elasticity, and hydrodynamic forces.
Limitations
The model simplifies fluid dynamics and does not account for unsteady effects like vortex shedding.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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