Experimental study and numerical modelling of a cod-end

The selectivity of trawls is conditioned by the net structure and flow characteristics which substantially affect the fish behaviour and the catch geometry in the cod-end. With the aim of a better understanding of interaction in presence in these flexible structures, we first carried out an experimental study to determine and to analyse the flow over a cod-end. In a second part, we describe a Finite Element Method modelling devoted to flexible structures made of nets, cables and bars, such as trawls.