Aerodynamic characteristics of flapping wings under steady lateral inflow

2019 ◽  
Vol 870 ◽  
pp. 735-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Anh Tuan Nguyen ◽  
Jae-Hung Han
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Lateral Direction ◽  
Roll Moment ◽  
Centre Of Gravity ◽  
Lateral Inflow ◽  
Force Moment ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Wing Interaction

This experimental study investigates the effect of a uniform lateral inflow on the aerodynamic characteristics of flapping wings. Seven designated sideward ratios in the hovering condition and in the presence of a contralateral wing and a body were taken into account as variables in order to secure a better understanding of wing–wing and/or wing–body interactions under the lateral inflow. Our results from the single-wing cases clarified that an inflow running from the wingroot strengthened the leading-edge vortex, thereby augmenting the aerodynamic force/moment. The inflow running in the opposite direction drastically bent the leading-edge vortex to the trailing edge, but the cycle-averaged aerodynamic force/moment was barely changed. This led to substantial imbalances in the force/moment on the two wings. The roll moment on a centre of gravity and the static margin suggested flight instability in the lateral direction, similar to previous studies. We found that the wing–wing interaction was not completely negligible overall under a lateral inflow. A massive downwash induced by the wing on the windward side nearly neutralized the aerodynamic force/moment augmentations on the other wing with lower effective angles of attack. The wing–wing interaction also gave rise to a low-lift high-drag situation during the pitching-up wing rotation, resulting in greater side force derivatives than the theory of flapping counterforce. Further calculations of the roll moment and the static margin with the centre of gravity showed that the wing–wing interaction can improve static stability in the lateral direction. This mainly stemmed from both the attenuation of the lift augmentation and the elimination of the positive roll moment of the flapping-wing system.

scholarly journals A contralateral wing stabilizes a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Jae-Hung Han
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
The Body ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Water Tank ◽  
Roll Moment ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Hinge Points

AbstractPrevious analysis on the lateral stability of hovering insects, which reported a destabilizing roll moment due to a lateral gust, has relied on the results of a single wing without considering a presence of the contralateral wing (wing-wing interaction). Here, we investigated the presence of the contralateral wing on the aerodynamic and flight dynamic characteristics of a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust. By employing a dynamically scaled-up mechanical model and a servo-driven towing system installed in a water tank, we found that the presence of the contralateral wing plays a significant role in the lateral static stability. The contralateral wing mitigated an excessive aerodynamic force on the wing at the leeward side, thereby providing a negative roll moment to the body. Digital particle image velocimetry revealed an attenuated vortical system of the leading-edge vortex. An excessive effective angle of attack in the single wing case, which was caused by the root vortex of previous half stroke, was reduced by a downwash of the contralateral wing. The contralateral wing also relocated a neutral point in close proximity to the wing hinge points above the actual center of gravity, providing a practical static margin to a hovering hawkmoth.

scholarly journals Schlieren photography on freely flying hawkmoth

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 20180198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Liu ◽  
Jesse Roll ◽  
Stephen Van Kooten ◽  
Xinyan Deng
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Vortical Flow ◽  
Natural Setting ◽  
Optical Flow Method ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Schlieren Photography

The aerodynamic force on flying insects results from the vortical flow structures that vary both spatially and temporally throughout flight. Due to these complexities and the inherent difficulties in studying flying insects in a natural setting, a complete picture of the vortical flow has been difficult to obtain experimentally. In this paper, Schlieren , a widely used technique for highspeed flow visualization, was adapted to capture the vortex structures around freely flying hawkmoth ( Manduca ). Flow features such as leading-edge vortex, trailing-edge vortex, as well as the full vortex system in the wake were visualized directly. Quantification of the flow from the Schlieren images was then obtained by applying a physics-based optical flow method, extending the potential applications of the method to further studies of flying insects.

scholarly journals Unsteady Aerodynamic Characteristics Simulations of Rotor Airfoil under Oscillating Freestream Velocity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1822
Author(s):  
Qing Wang ◽  
Qijun Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Grid Method ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Dynamic Stall ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Freestream Velocity ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamic ◽  
Edge Vortex

The dynamic stall characteristics of rotor airfoil are researched by employing unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method under oscillating freestream velocity conditions. In order to simulate the oscillating freestream velocity of airfoil under dynamic stall conditions, the moving-embedded grid method is employed to simulate the oscillating velocity. By comparing the simulated dynamic stall characteristics of two-dimensional airfoil and three-dimensional rotor, it is indicated that the dynamic stall characteristics of airfoil under oscillating freestream velocity reflect the actual dynamic stall characteristics of rotor airfoil in forward flight more accurately. By comparing the simulated results of OA209 airfoil under coupled freestream velocity/pitching oscillation conditions, it is indicated that the dynamic stall characteristics of airfoil associate with the critical value of Cp peaks (i.e., the dynamic stall characteristics of OA209 airfoil would be enhanced when the maximum negative pressure is larger than −1.08, and suppressed when this value is smaller than −1.08). By comparing the characteristics of vortices under different oscillating velocities, it indicates that the dissipation rate of leading edge vortex presents as exponent characteristics, and it is not sensitive to different oscillating velocities.

Wake Behavior Around Flapping Wings of Model Hawkmoth Moving Sideways

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Jae-Hung Han
Keyword(s):  
Particle Image ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Digital Particle Image Velocimetry ◽  
Flapping Wings ◽  
Windward Side ◽  
Leeward Side ◽  
Image Velocimetry ◽  
Wake Interaction ◽  
Edge Vortex

Abstract This study investigated nearwake behaviors around flapping wings moving sideways. A dynamically scaled-up flapping manipulator was installed on a servo-driven towing carriage to give the sideways movement. In the single wing configuration, the wing in the windward side did not encounter any noticeable effects on the aerodynamic characteristics. The wing in the leeward side, on the other hand, experienced a substantial lift augmentation. We found a stretched leading-edge vortex (LEV) on the wing in the leeward side, implying the additional feeding flux into the LEV. In this case, the moving sideways gave a continuous lateral wind, which became the source to maintain the lift augmentation with the less downward component. We also found that the moving sideways rather intensified the interaction between the wake of the wing in the windward side and the contralateral wing, i.e., the wing-wake interaction. Accordingly, the lift augmentation on the wing in the leeward side practically disappeared by the wing-wake interaction. A digital particle image velocimetry for nearwake behaviors found the less developed trailing-edge shear layer and wingroot vortex traces. This implied that the massive downwash induced by the wing in the windward side was the main source to neutralize the lift augmentation on the contralateral wing.

scholarly journals Aerodynamic Performance of a Passive Pitching Model on Bionic Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinjing Hao ◽  
Jianghao Wu ◽  
Yanlai Zhang
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Torsional Stiffness ◽  
Important Goal ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Yaw Moment ◽  
Air Vehicles

Reducing weight and increasing lift have been an important goal of using flapping wing micro air vehicles (FWMAVs). However, FWMAVs with mechanisms to limit the angle of attack (α) artificially by active force cannot meet specific requirements. This study applies a bioinspired model that passively imitates insects’ pitching wings to resolve this problem. In this bionic passive pitching model, the wing root is equivalent to a torsional spring. α obtained by solving the coupled dynamic equation is similar to that of insects and exhibits a unique characteristic with two oscillated peaks during the middle of the upstroke/downstroke under the interaction of aerodynamic, torsional, and inertial moments. Excess rigidity or flexibility deteriorates the aerodynamic force and efficiency of the passive pitching wing. With appropriate torsional stiffness, passive pitching can maintain a high efficiency while enhancing the average lift by 10% than active pitching. This observation corresponds to a clear enhancement in instantaneous force and a more concentrated leading edge vortex. This phenomenon can be attributed to a vorticity moment whose component in the lift direction grows at a rapid speed. A novel bionic control strategy of this model is also proposed. Similar to the rest angle in insects, the rest angle of the model is adjusted to generate a yaw moment around the wing root without losing lift, which can assist to change the attitude and trajectory of a FWMAV during flight. These findings may guide us to deal with various conditions and requirements of FWMAV designs and applications.

Vortex force of an impulsively started plate at high angle of attack

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 2402-2414
Author(s):  
Xiang Fu ◽  
Gaohua Li ◽  
Fuxin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Forces ◽  
Total Drag ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vortical Structures ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose A quantitative study that can identify the primary aerodynamic forces and relate them to individual vortical structures is lacking. The paper aims to clarify the quantitative relationships between the aerodynamic forces and vortical structures. Design/methodology/approach The various contributions to the aerodynamic forces on the two-dimensional impulsively started plate are investigated from the perspective of the vorticity moment theorem. The angles of attacks are set to 45°, 58.5° and 72°, while the Reynolds number is 10,000 based on the chord length. Compared with the traditional pressure force analysis, this theorem not only tells us the total aerodynamic force during the motion, but also enables us to quantify the forces contributed from the fluid elements with non-zero vorticity. Findings It is found that the time-dependent force behaviors are dominated by the formations and evolutions of these vortical structures. The analysis of the time-averaged forces demonstrates that the lift contributed from the leading edge vortex (LEV) is nearly four times larger than the total lift and the drag contributed from the starting vortex (SV) is almost equal to the total drag when the angle of attack (AoA) increases to 72°, which means the LEV is “lift structure” whereas the SV is “drag structure”. Practical implications The present method provides a better perspective for flow control and drag reduction by relating the forces directly to the individual vorticity structures. Originality/value In this paper, the Vorticity Moment Theory is first used to study the quantitative relationships between the aerodynamic forces and the vortices.

scholarly journals Evolution of the leading-edge vortex over a flapping wing mechanism

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 6888-6894
Author(s):  
Muhamad Ridzuan Arifin ◽  
A.F.M. Yamin ◽  
A.S. Abdullah ◽  
M.F. Zakaryia ◽  
S. Shuib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Unsteady State ◽  
Leading Edge Vortex ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Advance Ratio ◽  
Lift Enhancement ◽  
Lift And Drag

Leading-edge vortex governs the aerodynamic force production of flapping wing flyers. The primary factor for lift enhancement is the leading-edge vortex (LEV) that allows for stall delay that is associated with unsteady fluid flow and thus generating extra lift during flapping flight. To access the effects of LEV to the aerodynamic performance of flapping wing, the three-dimensional numerical analysis of flow solver (FLUENT) are fully applied to simulate the flow pattern. The time-averaged aerodynamic performance (i.e., lift and drag) based on the effect of the advance ratio to the unsteadiness of the flapping wing will result in the flow regime of the flapping wing to be divided into two-state, unsteady state (J<1) and quasi-steady-state(J>1). To access the benefits of aerodynamic to the flapping wing, both set of parameters of velocities 2m/s to 8m/s at a high flapping frequency of 3 to 9 Hz corresponding to three angles of attacks of α = 0o to α = 30o. The result shows that as the advance ratio increases the generated lift and generated decreases until advance ratio, J =3 then the generated lift and drag does not change with increasing advance ratio. It is also found that the change of lift and drag with changing angle of attack changes with increasing advance ratio. At low advance ratio, the lift increase by 61% and the drag increase by 98% between α =100 and α =200. The lift increase by 28% and drag increase by 68% between α = 200 and α = 300. However, at high advance ratio, the lift increase by 59% and the drag increase by 80% between α =100 and α = 200, while between α =200 and α =300 the lift increase by 20% and drag increase by 64%. This suggest that the lift and drag slope decreases with increasing advance ratio. In this research, the results had shown that in the unsteady state flow, the LEV formation can be indicated during both strokes. The LEV is the main factor to the lift enhancement where it generated the lower suction of negative pressure. For unsteady state, the LEV was formed on the upper surface that increases the lift enhancement during downstroke while LEV was formed on the lower surface of the wing that generated the negative lift enhancement. The LEV seem to breakdown at the as the wing flap toward the ends on both strokes.      

The advance ratio effect on the lift augmentations of an insect-like flapping wing in forward flight

2016 ◽  
Vol 808 ◽  
pp. 485-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Jo Won Chang ◽  
Jae-Hung Han
Keyword(s):  
Leading Edge ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Navier Stokes Equation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Image Velocimetry ◽  
Force Moment ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Advance Ratio ◽  
High Reynolds

Time-varying force/moment measurements and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) were conducted to reveal the influence of an advance ratio $J$ on an insect-like flapping wing. A scaled-up robotic model and a servo-driven towing tank were employed to investigate nine individual $J$ cases – $J=0$ (hovering), 0.0625, 0.1250, 0.1875, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0 and $\infty$ (gliding motion) – at a high Reynolds number ($Re\sim 10^{4}$). At $J\leqslant 0.25$, the aerodynamic forces slightly increased from those in hover ($J=0$). The centres of pressure in these cases were concentrated in the outboard section, and the leading-edge vortices (LEVs) grew more conically than those in hover. Spanwise cross-sectional DPIV indicated that the wings generated more balanced downwashes, which effectively supported the slight lift increments in this range. At $J>0.25$, a drastic force drop appeared as $J$ increased. The DPIV results in the $J=0.5$ case clearly showed a strong trailing-edge vortex on the outboard trailing edges encroaching into the upper surface, which had been occupied by the LEV for lower $J$. The LEV vorticity was noticeably weakened, and coherent substructures with substantial turbulence accompanied this vorticity. In the $J=1.0$ case, such encroachment was extended to 50 % of the section, and the LEV outboard became significantly irregular. The near-wake structures also showed that the $J=1.0$ case had the narrowest downwash area, with unstable root and tip vortices, which reflected considerable attenuation in the lift enhancements. It was of note that all of these vortical behaviours were clearly distinguishable from aspect ratio ($AR$) effects. The $J$ even played a similar role to that of the $AR$ in the Navier–Stokes equation. These findings clearly indicated that the $J$ could be an independent quantity governing the overall vortical system and lift enhancing mechanism on a flapping wing of a flapping-wing micro air vehicle.

scholarly journals Study of Mosquito Aerodynamics for Imitation as a Small Robot and Flight in a Low-Density Environment

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 511
Author(s):  
Balbir Singh ◽  
Noorfaizal Yidris ◽  
Adi Azriff Basri ◽  
Raghuvir Pai ◽  
Kamarul Arifin Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Mass Effect ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Small Robot ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stroke Amplitude

In terms of their flight and unusual aerodynamic characteristics, mosquitoes have become a new insect of interest. Despite transmitting the most significant infectious diseases globally, mosquitoes are still among the great flyers. Depending on their size, they typically beat at a high flapping frequency in the range of 600 to 800 Hz. Flapping also lets them conceal their presence, flirt, and help them remain aloft. Their long, slender wings navigate between the most anterior and posterior wing positions through a stroke amplitude about 40 to 45°, way different from their natural counterparts (>120°). Most insects use leading-edge vortex for lift, but mosquitoes have additional aerodynamic characteristics: rotational drag, wake capture reinforcement of the trailing-edge vortex, and added mass effect. A comprehensive look at the use of these three mechanisms needs to be undertaken—the pros and cons of high-frequency, low-stroke angles, operating far beyond the normal kinematic boundary compared to other insects, and the impact on the design improvements of miniature drones and for flight in low-density atmospheres such as Mars. This paper systematically reviews these unique unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of mosquito flight, responding to the potential questions from some of these discoveries as per the existing literature. This paper also reviews state-of-the-art insect-inspired robots that are close in design to mosquitoes. The findings suggest that mosquito-based small robots can be an excellent choice for flight in a low-density environment such as Mars.

scholarly journals Aerodynamic investigation on shifted-back vertical stroke plane of flapping wing in forward flight

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 064001
Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Christian Breitsamter
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Forward Flight ◽  
Blade Element Theory ◽  
Aerodynamic Model ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Perpendicular Component ◽  
Semi Empirical

Abstract In order to properly understand aerodynamic characteristics in a flapping wing in forward flight, additional aerodynamic parameters apart from those in hover—an inclined stroke plane, a shifted-back stroke plane, and an advance ratio—must be comprehended in advance. This paper deals with the aerodynamic characteristics of a flapping wing in a shifted-back vertical stroke plane in freestream. A scaled-up robotic arm in a water towing tank was used to collect time-varying forces of a model flapping wing, and a semi-empirical quasi-steady aerodynamic model, which can decompose the forces into steady, quasi-steady, and unsteady components, was used to estimate the forces of the model flapping wing. It was found that the shifted-back stroke plane left a part of freestream as a non-perpendicular component, giving rise to a time-course change in the aerodynamic forces during the stroke. This also brought out two quasi-steady components (rotational and added-mass forces) apart from the steady one, even the wing moved with a constant stroke velocity. The aerodynamic model underestimated the actual forces of the model flapping wing even it can cover the increasingly distributed angle of attack of the vertical stroke plane with a blade element theory. The locations of the centers of pressure suggested a greater pressure gradient and an elongated leading-edge vortex along a wingspan than that of the estimation, which may explain the higher actual force in forward flight.

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