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Erik J. Anderson

Professor

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grove City College

Fluid dynamics of biological and biomimetic propulsion

My research focuses on how biology has solved engineering problems associated with living in and moving through a fluid world. These solutions have the potential to inform engineering design, marine resource management and evolutionary biology. More specifically, I use flow visualization to investigate swimming performance in marine organisms and biomimetic robots. I also study how organisms sense, respond to and control fluid flow. Current projects in my lab focus on resonance in fish swimming, the behavior of plankton in turbulence, whale tag hydrodynamics, propulsion by undulating flexible panels, and biological boundary layers.