Flight Maneuver of a Damselfly with Phase Modulation of the Wings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hsiang Lai ◽  
Jui-Fu Ma ◽  
Jing-Tang Yang
Keyword(s):  
Phase Modulation ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Incoming Flow ◽  
Vortex Interaction ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Flight Velocity ◽  
Effective Angle ◽  
Induced Flow ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
Lead Phase

Synopsis We developed a numerical model for four-wing self-propulsion to calculate effectively the flight velocity generated with varied wing motions, which satisfactorily verified biological experiments. Through this self-propulsion model, we analyzed the flight velocity of a damselfly (Matrona cyanoptera) at varied phases. The results show that after phase modulation of the wings, the aerodynamic performance of the forewing (FW) is affected by the incoming flow and an effective angle of attack, whereas that of the hindwing (HW) is dominated by the vortex interaction and induced flow generated by the shed vortex of the FW. Cooperating with the flow interaction, in stable flight, the HW in the lead phase has a larger vertical velocity, whereas the FW in the lead phase has a larger horizontal velocity. Regarding the aerodynamic efficiency, the FW in the lead phase has greater horizontal efficiency, whereas the HW in the lead phase has greater vertical efficiency; the overall efficiency does not vary with the phase. This work interprets that a dragonfly adopts the HW in the lead phase to generate a larger lift, thus supporting the larger body weight, whereas a damselfly adopts the FW in the lead phase to have a greater forward velocity, which can supplement the lack of flapping frequency.

scholarly journals Biomechanics of the unique pterosaur pteroid

2009 ◽  
Vol 277 (1684) ◽  
pp. 1121-1127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Palmer ◽  
Gareth J. Dyke
Keyword(s):  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Biomechanical Analysis ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Fourth Finger ◽  
Forward Part ◽  
The Way

Pterosaurs, flying reptiles from the Mesozoic, had wing membranes that were supported by their arm bones and a super-elongate fourth finger. Associated with the wing, pterosaurs also possessed a unique wrist bone—the pteroid—that functioned to support the forward part of the membrane in front of the leading edge, the propatagium. Pteroid shape varies across pterosaurs and reconstructions of its orientation vary (projecting anteriorly to the wing leading edge or medially, lying alongside it) and imply differences in the way that pterosaurs controlled their wings. Here we show, using biomechanical analysis and considerations of aerodynamic efficiency of a representative ornithocheirid pterosaur, that an anteriorly orientated pteroid is highly unlikely. Unless these pterosaurs only flew steadily and had very low body masses, their pteroids would have been likely to break if orientated anteriorly; the degree of movement required for a forward orientation would have introduced extreme membrane strains and required impractical tensioning in the propatagium membrane. This result can be generalized for other pterodactyloid pterosaurs because the resultant geometry of an anteriorly orientated pteroid would have reduced the aerodynamic performance of all wings and required the same impractical properties in the propatagium membrane. We demonstrate quantitatively that the more traditional reconstruction of a medially orientated pteroid was much more stable both structurally and aerodynamically, reflecting likely life position.

Aerodynamic Investigation of Double Surface Airfoil

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-46
Author(s):  
Siva J ◽  
Suresh C ◽  
Paramaguru V
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Aircraft Industry ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Flight Vehicles ◽  
Double Surface ◽  
Naca 0012 ◽  
Aerodynamic Investigation

Aircraft industry has been deeply concerned about reduction of drag by reducing flow separation and improving the aerodynamic efficiency of flight vehicles, particularly in commercial and military market by adopting various methods. Reduction of flow separation is a concept by which we can increase aerodynamic efficiency. The purpose of the project is to perform an experimental investigation on aerodynamic performance of NACA 0012 airfoil model with and without splits. It is evident from this research work that the airfoil model with split possesses greater aerodynamic performance by producing lesser overall drag. This is due to the delay in flow separation from the surface.

Experimental analysis of cell pattern on grid fin aerodynamics in subsonic flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-562
Author(s):  
Manish Tripathi ◽  
Mahesh M Sucheendran ◽  
Ajay Misra
Keyword(s):  
Subsonic Flow ◽  
Lift Coefficient ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Grid Fin ◽  
Stall Angle ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Control Surfaces

Grid fins consisting of a lattice of high aspect ratio planar members encompassed by an outer frame are unconventional control surfaces used on numerous missiles and bombs due to their enhanced lifting characteristics at high angles of attack and across wider Mach number regimes. The current paper accomplishes and compares the effect of different grid fin patterns on subsonic flow aerodynamics of grid fins by virtue of the determination of their respective aerodynamic forces. Furthermore, this study deliberates the impact of gap variation on aerodynamics of different patterns. Results enunciate enhanced aerodynamic efficiency, and lift slope for web-fin cells and single diamond patterns compared to the baseline model. Moreover, the study indicates improved aerodynamic performance for diamond patterns with higher gaps by providing elevated maximum lift coefficient, delayed stall angle, and comparable drag at lower angles. The study established the presence of an additional effect termed as the inclination effect alongside the cascade effect leading to deviations with respect to lift, stall, and aerodynamic efficiency amongst different gap variants of the individual patterns. Thus, optimization based on the aerodynamic efficiency, stall angle requirements, and construction cost by optimum pattern and gap selection can be carried out through this analysis, which can lead to elevated aerodynamic performance for grid fins.

Wind Tunnel Hotwire Measurements, Flow Visualization and Thrust Measurement of a VAWT in Skew

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos J. Simão Ferreira ◽  
Gerard J. W. van Bussel ◽  
Gijs A. M. van Kuik
Keyword(s):  
Flow Visualization ◽  
Operation Mode ◽  
Sampling Rate ◽  
Vertical Axis ◽  
Incoming Flow ◽  
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine ◽  
Tip Vortices ◽  
High Sampling Rate ◽  
Thrust Measurement ◽  
Induced Flow

The results of experimental research on the wake and induced flow around a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) in skew are presented. The previous research on VAWTs in skew is limited because this operation mode has only recently been found to be significant in the operation of VAWTs in the built environment. These results contain hotwire measurements of the incoming flow and wake of a VAWT in nonskewed and skewed flow. The high sampling rate of the hotwire data allows the effects of blade passing to be identified. Flow visualization of the tip vortices is also presented. Thrust measurements of the rotor were performed to understand the effect of skew on thrust variation and to compare with analytical predictions.

scholarly journals Aerodynamic Performance Estimation of Camber Morphing Airfoils for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Rajesh Senthil Kumar ◽  
Sivakumar Venugopal ◽  
Balajee Ramakrishnananda ◽  
S Vijay
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Performance Estimation ◽  
Discrete Elements ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Design Specifications ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Typical Design

This paper proposes a methodology to harvest the benefits of camber morphing airfoils for small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV) applications. Camber morphing using discrete elements was used to morph the base airfoil, which was split into two, three, and four elements, respectively, to achieve new configurations, into the target one. . In total, thirty morphed airfoil configurations were generated and tested for aerodynamic efficiency at the Reynolds numbers of 2.5 × 105 and 4.8 × 105, corresponding to loiter and cruise Reynolds numbers of a typical SUAV. The target airfoil performance could be closely achieved by combinations of 5 to 8 morphed configurations, the best of which were selected from a pool of thirty morphed airfoil configurations for the typical design specifications of SUAV. Interestingly, some morphed airfoil configurations show a reduction in drag coefficient of 1.21 to 15.17% compared to the target airfoil over a range of flight altitudes for cruise and loiter phases. Inspired by the drag reductions observed, a case study is presented for resizing a SUAV accounting for the mass addition due to the morphing system retaining the benefits of drag reduction.

Structural Development

1963 ◽  
Vol 67 (635) ◽  
pp. 701-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Ashley
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
Wing Area ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Consequent Reduction ◽  
Overall Efficiency ◽  
Structural Significance

Before looking forward, the structural significance of the trend towards the rear-mounted engine must be considered. The reason for this trend stems from the need to obtain increased overall efficiency. The advent of the jet engine first of all made it possible to bring the engines inboard into the root, as on the Comet and Vulcan aircraft, and now, in the interest of obtaining higher aerodynamic efficiency, they have been moved aft towards the tail end of the fuselage. This allows a reduction of wing area, a consequent reduction in tailplane area, an overall reduction in drag and a consequent decrease in fuel consumption for a given performance.

scholarly journals Effect of Wing Corrugation on the Aerodynamic Efficiency of Two-Dimensional Flapping Wings

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 7375
Author(s):  
Thanh Tien Dao ◽  
Thi Kim Loan Au ◽  
Soo Hyung Park ◽  
Hoon Cheol Park
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Flapping Wings ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Insect Wing ◽  
Wing Motion ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd

Many previous studies have shown that wing corrugation of an insect wing is only structurally beneficial in enhancing the wing’s bending stiffness and does not much help to improve the aerodynamic performance of flapping wings. This study uses two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in aiming to identify a proper wing corrugation that can enhance the aerodynamic performance of the KUBeetle, an insect-like flapping-wing micro air vehicle (MAV), which operates at a Reynolds number of less than 13,000. For this purpose, various two-dimensional corrugated wings were numerically investigated. The two-dimensional flapping wing motion was extracted from the measured three-dimensional wing kinematics of the KUBeetle at spanwise locations of r = (0.375 and 0.75)R. The CFD analysis showed that at both spanwise locations, the corrugations placed over the entire wing were not beneficial for improving aerodynamic efficiency. However, for the two-dimensional flapping wing at the spanwise location of r = 0.375R, where the wing experiences relatively high angles of attack, three specially designed wings with leading-edge corrugation showed higher aerodynamic performance than that of the non-corrugated smooth wing. The improvement is closely related to the flow patterns formed around the wings. Therefore, the proposed leading-edge corrugation is suggested for the inboard wing of the KUBeetle to enhance aerodynamic performance. The corrugation in the inboard wing may also be structurally beneficial.

Investigating the effects of leading-edge tubercles on the aerodynamic performance of insect-like flapping wing

2020 ◽  
pp. 095440622094635
Author(s):  
Muhammad Bilal Anwar ◽  
Aamer Shahzad ◽  
Muhammad Nafees Mumtaz Qadri
Keyword(s):  
Leading Edge ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Flapping Wing ◽  
Chord Length ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Power Coefficient ◽  
Pectoral Fin ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Better Than

Tubercles are small protuberances or bumps on the leading edge of humpback whale's pectoral fin. To examine the effects of leading-edge tubercles on the aerodynamic performance of a flapping wing, lift, drag, and power coefficients are obtained from numerical simulations. A revolving wing (one-degree-of-freedom azimuth rotation; rotation in a horizontal plane after an initial acceleration) with leading-edge tubercles at an angle of attack of 40° and Reynolds number of 400 is used in the present study. The reason for choosing azimuth rotation is that it resembles downstroke and upstroke of flapping motion of an insect. A rigid rectangular wing with six different combinations of wavelengths ( λ = 10% and 50% of the chord length) and amplitudes ( A = 2.5%, 5%, and 10% of the chord length) are chosen for this study. These parameters are inspired by the tubercles present at the leading edge of humpback whales' pectoral fin. It was observed that generally, tubercles degraded the aerodynamic performance of the wings in terms of lift, drag, and power coefficients. Although some of the tubercle leading-edge wings showed lower drag (2.20% lower) and lower power coefficient (2.12% lower) values than the baseline wing, none of the tubercle wing performed better than the baseline wing in terms of aerodynamic performance parameters; aerodynamic efficiency ([Formula: see text]) and power economy ([Formula: see text]). Hence, it was concluded that the tubercles are not advantageous over the straight leading-edge wing for azimuth rotating hovering insect-like motion and further investigation is required to explore its potential benefits.

scholarly journals Aerodynamics of an aerofoil in transonic ground effect: numerical study at full-scale Reynolds numbers

2012 ◽  
Vol 116 (1178) ◽  
pp. 407-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Doig ◽  
T. J. Barber ◽  
A. J. Neely ◽  
D. D. Myre
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Ground Plane ◽  
Ground Effect ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Critical Mach Number ◽  
Positive Effects

Abstract The potential positive effects of ground proximity on the aerodynamic performance of a wing or aerofoil have long been established, but at transonic speeds the formation of shock waves between the body and the ground plane would have significant consequences. A numerical study of the aerodynamics of an RAE2822 aerofoil section in ground effect flight was conducted at freestream Mach numbers from 0·5 to 0·9, at a range of ground clearances and angles of incidence. It was found that in general the aerofoil’s lifting capability was still improved with decreasing ground clearance up until the point at which a lower surface shock wave formed (most commonly at the lowest clearances). The critical Mach number for the section was reached considerably earlier in ground effect than it would be in freestream, and the buffet boundary was therefore also reached at an earlier stage. The flowfields observed were relatively sensitive to changes in any given variable, and the lower surface shock had a destabilising effect on the pitching characteristics of the wing, indicating that sudden changes in both altitude and attitude would be experienced during sustained transonic flight close to the ground plane. Since ground proximity hastens the lower surface shock formation, no gain in aerodynamic efficiency can be gained by flying in ground effect once that shock is present.

Effects of Vortex-Vortex Interaction in a Compressor Cascade With Vortex Generators

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Zheng ◽  
Xiaoqing Qiang ◽  
Jinfang Teng
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Extensive Study ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Separation Flow ◽  
Vortex Interaction ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Corner Separation ◽  
Flow Phenomena

This paper presents a numerical investigation to explore the effects of vortex generators on a high speed compressor cascade. Secondary flow effects like the corner separation vortex have an influence on the performance of a compressor cascade such as leading to increased losses. In order to control the corner separation vortex and reduce losses, an extensive study of vortex generators applied to a compressor cascade is conducted. A preliminary study by steady 3D RANS simulations is performed using the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. The aerodynamic performance as well as the behavior of the corner separation vortex is investigated in the compressor cascade without vortex generators. Then, a vortex generator is added to the cascade, which is numerically simulated. Various configurations are considered, which are decided by the height and installation angle of the vortex generator. Comparison of the performance attained by these configurations results in an optimum scheme that has minimum losses. Furthermore, unsteady 3D DES simulations are performed with the optimum configuration. This method that predicts the flow field more precisely could help verify the accuracy of the RANS results. Finally, by analyzing all the resulting aerodynamic performance and numerical flow phenomena, the mechanism of vortex-vortex interaction is presented and discussed, which could be a criterion to reduce the corner separation flow and enhance the performance of axial compressors.

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