The First Ever (soon to be) Published Study on Mermaid Tail Swimming and Tails

[AniaR]

I'll be using this thread to dump updates, photos, and videos, on our study which is lined up to be the first ever done on mermaid tails and mermaid tail swimming.



Today was a mermazing day and we just need to thank so many people. Our team is participating in the FIRST EVER published study that looks at mermaid tails! We are working with a group of engineers, staff, and students, from Dalhousie University in the Aquatron based at the Steele Ocean Science Building. Thank you to the Aquatron team, to the engineers, to students, to faculty, and tothe Mermaids too for making this possible. We gathered some amazing data today and combining science with mermaid tails is one of the coolest things ever. Thank you to Merbellas Studios Inc who gave permission to have their tails be the center of this first study... soon to be published. The data we're getting is going to change the tail making, tail swimming, and monofin world. So amazing to be part of something like this, and to have access to such an awesome facility. (Image posted with permission of all involved, and the University.)

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I'll post more specific info once I get my photos ready to post up!

[Luna Dreamtide]

That's so exciting. Sounds super interesting....

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Grats Raina! Hopefully something like this is more solid information for tail bans. And people to do actual research of it, rather relying on that one video on youtube, and media scares. Cos that's what got Australian pools in a tizzy over it. Fear, ignorance, the media being misinformed and scaring everyone causing tail bans. Everyone insisting they'll drown in one.
*sigh*
I do hope too, that the Australian Lifeguards read your study and make a proper decision over it, instead of being scared to make a point.

[AniaR]

You can see all our photos in total here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2223161&type=3

Here's a few highlights, video coming once the aquatron's PR people approve it

Doing a wet study in the winter sure is fun...



I get measured to help calculate speed



Mimi provides a baseline testing for only a finis rapid


Mimi gets machine hooked up to her leg to measure speed and distance




Mimi just had a baby and had to retire her old tail. While we save up to buy her a new one she used my old one which is too short on her, but she made it work.



Ama is ready to go



Measuring Mimi (spoiler alert, she's long)



She's ready to go





Mimi does a swim test



Ama does a front flip test



Mimi does a speed test, swam so fast she swam out of the tail



Ama is happy even in freezing water



Mimi hits bottom



Nessie suits up



Victoria gets suited up with the machine





Victoria is happy to be in a tail





Nessie does her speed test







Victoria speed test







Nessie roll test







Victoria Roll test









Nessie front flip test







Victoria front flip test










I get suited up with a machine







being measured



Mimi and I get ready to compare tail with monofins



Behind the scenes







My roll test









Mimi







My front flip test













fast turn testing













behind the scenes





















Mimi does a free form dolphin kick test



the group

[Seraphina Suds]

Very cool! Wouldn't the extra drag from Mimi's tail not fitting properly be an issue for the data?

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[AniaR]

It didnt really create any drag honestly when it was measured. Youd be surprised what did and what didnt this first time around! Mine has far more drag than I realized!!!

[Mermaid Alea]

What an awesome study! I am super excited to see your results! I love your new logo by the way.

[AniaR]

thank you, daphne made it

[PearlieMae]

THIS IS SO COOL! I can't wait to read the findings! You are a pioneer, Raina! Way to go, Team Halifax!

[AniaR]

to be clear : we're only working with merbellas studios, and with finis at this time. not all details of our study can be public at this time. I am a participant, not organizing it. And this is just one session so far of a year long study.

[Seraphina Suds]

It didnt really create any drag honestly when it was measured. Youd be surprised what did and what didnt this first time around! Mine has far more drag than I realized!!!

Interesting! Can't wait to find out more~

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[Mermaid Coralia]

This is pretty interesting. I can't wait to see what results come in.

[Sabrina the Selkie]

This is sososososo cool.

Like. I'm not even articulate, I'm so excited about what this study could bring about!

[Vela]

This is really cool! I can't wait to see what comes out of it!

[HamptonsMermaid]

The scientist in me is so excited! I imagine extra fins create extra drag. They look so pretty but I'm considering sacrificing fancy fin add ons for free diving performance. Would be great to know how fluke shape affects performance! Too bad they can't test different monofins, that probably has the biggest effect.

[AniaR]

The scientist in me is so excited! I imagine extra fins create extra drag. They look so pretty but I'm considering sacrificing fancy fin add ons for free diving performance. Would be great to know how fluke shape affects performance! Too bad they can't test different monofins, that probably has the biggest effect.

Our extra fins we do have are super tiny, I dont find they make a difference personally (not sure what the data will say) I mean, fish have extra little fins too haha. But when I see other tails (not ours) with giant fins on the side etc I know they create drag for sure.

just from what I experienced doing the study (again, not official data) the monofin and fluke type seemed to really be the things creating drag. Mimi was even able to go faster in bare feet no monofin than one of the tails lol.

[Merman Storm]

The aeronautical engineer in me is really interested in this. (Don't let the "aero" fool you. I work with water too, for example, I designed the propeller, shroud, and body shape of this: http://www.rasmuscatalog.com/cgi-bin...asmus764/11232).
Are you doing anything to separate the effects of drag from the effects of propulsion efficiency? For example, do you get up to speed, the put yourself into your best glide position, and see how quickly you slow down?
Looking forward to results!

[AniaR]

keep in mind, I am not a scientist or engineer running the study, I am a participant in the study, and not all details can be discussed until the study is published bahah. so there's me side stepping your question.

[Merman Storm]

Understood. Is it OK if you, as a participant, tell us if you did a coast-down test?

[HamptonsMermaid]

Understood. Is it OK if you, as a participant, tell us if you did a coast-down test?

Yes coast down would be great! This is what I want to know more about for freediving, where your goal is to use the least amount of energy/oxygen. I might be able to find some research specific to monofins, but would like to know more about how it translates to tails.

For example, I've already found some good information from triathlon wetsuits. I did the swim leg of a triathlon once and the wetsuits are usually designed to be super smooth and floaty like a seal. But a new study tested over 100 prototypes and found that certain embossed patterns of neoprene are actually better than flat.

As you can see, some of these are almost scale like, and they probably are inspired a lot by nature who always figures out the most efficient way! But maybe one could design a mermaid scale pattern that also decreases water resistance (though the design might have to be really tiny to work, which wouldn't be as aesthetically pleasing as big scales, and I don't know about the friction difference between neoprene and silicone...but food for thought!)



"Battle plane wing pattern distributes water via up to 60 degrees (angle).
Honeycomb geometry pattern distributes water in equal 60 degree directions.
Inverted wing pattern can partly heighten water resistance through movement of inner arms."