Meeting Abstract

6.5  Thursday, Jan. 3  Computational fluid dynamics simulations of a vibrating sphere nearby a benthic fish in still and moving water RAPO, M.A.**; JIANG, H.; GROSENBAUGH, M.A.; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA mrapo@whoi.edu

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to compliment the many experiments which use a vibrating sphere as a prey source for lateral line stimulation. With the aid of 3-dimensional, time-dependent CFD simulations, the spatially and temporally varied hydrodynamic signal field (quantified here as the pressure field and the flow velocity field) can be determined in much more detail. As test cases, the effects of the fish body and fins on the local flow field resulting from a 3-mm sphere vibrating at 50Hz in orientations parallel and perpendicular to the fish body are examined. Also, signal-to-noise ratios for the received dipole signal in a noisy background flow are compared for bluff (fins extended) and streamlined (fins retracted) body configurations. It is intended to demonstrate that these �reality reproducing� numerical simulations provide a powerful new tool for mapping the hydrodynamic signals potentially detectable to the fish lateral line system.