scholarly journals Scalability of resonant motor-driven flapping wing propulsion systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 210452
Author(s):  
Mostafa R. A. Nabawy ◽  
Ruta Marcinkeviciute

This work aims to develop an integrated conceptual design process to assess the scalability and performance of propulsion systems of resonant motor-driven flapping wing vehicles. The developed process allows designers to explore the interaction between electrical, mechanical and aerodynamic domains in a single transparent design environment. Wings are modelled based on a quasi-steady treatment that evaluates aerodynamics from geometry and kinematic information. System mechanics is modelled as a damped second-order dynamic system operating at resonance with nonlinear aerodynamic damping. Motors are modelled using standard equations that relate operational parameters and AC voltage input. Design scaling laws are developed using available data based on current levels of technology. The design method provides insights into the effects of changing core design variables such as the actuator size, actuator mass fraction and pitching kinematics on the overall design solution. It is shown that system efficiency achieves peak values of 30–36% at motor masses of 0.5–1 g when a constant angle of attack kinematics is employed. While sinusoidal angle of attack kinematics demands more aerodynamic and electric powers compared with the constant angle of attack case, sinusoidal angle of attack kinematics can lead to a maximum difference of around 15% in peak system efficiency.

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (161) ◽  
pp. 20190609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kit Sum Wu ◽  
Jerome Nowak ◽  
Kenneth S. Breuer

Flapping flight using passive pitch regulation is a commonly used mode of thrust and lift generation in insects and has been widely emulated in flying vehicles because it allows for simple implementation of the complex kinematics associated with flapping wing systems. Although robotic flight employing passive pitching to regulate angle of attack has been previously demonstrated, there does not exist a comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of this mode of aerodynamic force generation, nor a method to accurately predict its performance over a range of relevant scales. Here, we present such scaling laws, incorporating aerodynamic, inertial and structural elements of the flapping-wing system, validating the theoretical considerations using a mechanical model which is tested for a linear elastic hinge and near-sinusoidal stroke kinematics over a range of scales, hinge stiffnesses and flapping frequencies. We find that suitably defined dimensionless parameters, including the Reynolds number, Re , the Cauchy number, Ch , and a newly defined ‘inertial-elastic’ number, IE, can reliably predict the kinematic and aerodynamic performance of the system. Our results also reveal a consistent dependency of pitching kinematics on these dimensionless parameters, providing a connection between lift coefficient and kinematic features such as angle of attack and wing rotation.


Author(s):  
Yutong Wang ◽  
Shankar Kalyanasundaram ◽  
John Young

Instruments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Sandro Palestini

The subject of space charge in ionization detectors is reviewed, showing how the observations and the formalism used to describe the effects have evolved, starting with applications to calorimeters and reaching recent, large time-projection chambers. General scaling laws, and different ways to present and model the effects are presented. The relations between space-charge effects and the boundary conditions imposed on the side faces of the detector are discussed, together with a design solution that mitigates some of the effects. The implications of the relative size of drift length and transverse detector size are illustrated. Calibration methods are briefly discussed.


1965 ◽  
Vol 9 (02) ◽  
pp. 56-65
Author(s):  
Joseph L. Neuringer ◽  
Eugene Migotsky ◽  
James H. Turner ◽  
Robert M. Haag

In Part 3, the nature of the electromechanically induced motions inside the compressor both of the fluid conductor and of the pumped fluid when the electromechanical coupling is weak, i.e., in the limit of small magnetic Reynolds number, is investigated. The analysis predicts the development of a constant pressure gradient in the pumped fluid when the condition is imposed that the time-average axial mass flow across the conducting fluid annulus is zero. In Part 4, a preliminary feasibility study is made to determine whether the induction compressor has the potential to provide the pressure rise required to propel large and small undersea craft by means of jet propulsion systems for reasonable power and current-sheet inputs. Also determined here are the geometric scaling laws for the appropriate operating and design parameters.


Author(s):  
G D Gosain ◽  
R Sharma ◽  
Tae-wan Kim

In the modern era of design governed by economics and efficiency, the preliminary design of a semi-submersible is critically important because in an evolutionary design environment new designs evolve from the basic preliminary designs and the basic dimensions and configurations affect almost all the parameters related to the economics and efficiency (e.g. hydrodynamic response, stability, deck load and structural steel weight of the structure, etc.). The present paper is focused on exploring an optimum design method that aims not only at optimum motion characteristics but also optimum stability, manufacturing and operational efficiency. Our proposed method determines the most preferable optimum principal dimensions of a semi-submersible that satisfies the desired requirements for motion performance and stability at the preliminary stage of design. Our proposed design approach interlinks the mathematical design model with the global optimization techniques and this paper presents the preliminary design approach, the mathematical model of optimization. Finally, a real world design example of a semi-submersible is presented to show the applicability and efficiency of the proposed design optimization model at the preliminary stage of design.


2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain M. Boyle ◽  
Kevin Rong ◽  
David C. Brown

Fixtures accurately locate and secure a part during machining operations. Various computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) methods have been developed to reduce design costs associated with fixturing. One approach uses a case-based reasoning (CBR) method where relevant design experience is retrieved from a design library and adapted to provide a new design solution. Indexing design cases is a critical issue in CBR, and CBR systems can suffer from an inability to distinguish between cases if indexing is inadequate. This paper presents CAFixD, a CAFD methodology that adopts a rigorous approach to defining indexing attributes based upon axiomatic design functional requirement decomposition. A design requirement is decomposed in terms of functional requirements, physical solutions are retrieved and adapted for each individual requirement, and the design is then reconstituted to form a complete fixture design. This paper presents the CAFixD framework and operation, and discusses in detail the indexing mechanisms used.


Author(s):  
H Smith ◽  
D Sziroczák ◽  
GE Abbe ◽  
P Okonkwo

The design of aircraft has evolved over time from the classical design approach to the more modern computer-based design method utilizing multivariate design optimization. In recent years, aircraft concepts and configurations have become more diverse and complex thus pushing many synthesis packages beyond their capability. Furthermore, many examples of aircraft design software focus on the analysis of one particular concept thus requiring separate packages for each concept. This can lead to complications in comparing concepts and configurations as differences in performance may originate from different prediction toolsets being used. This paper presents the GENUS Aircraft Design Framework developed by Cranfield University’s Aircraft Design Group to address these issues. The paper reviews available aircraft design methodologies and describes the challenges faced in their development and application. Following this, the GENUS aircraft design environment is introduced, along with the theoretical background and practical reasoning behind the program architecture. Particular attention is given to the programming, choice of methodology, and optimization techniques involved. Subsequently, some applications of the developed methodology, implemented in the framework are presented to illustrate the diversity of the approach. Three special classes of aircraft design concept are presented briefly.


2009 ◽  
Vol 113 (1142) ◽  
pp. 253-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Wilkins ◽  
K. Knowles

AbstractThe aerodynamics of insect-like flapping are dominated by the production of a large, stable, and lift-enhancing leading-edge vortex (LEV) above the wing. In this paper the phenomenology behind the LEV is explored, the reasons for its stability are investigated, and the effects on the LEV of changing Reynolds number or angle-of-attack are studied. A predominantly-computational method has been used, validated against both existing and new experimental data. It is concluded that the LEV is stable over the entire range of Reynolds numbers investigated here and that changes in angle-of-attack do not affect the LEV’s stability. The primary motivation of the current work is to ascertain whether insect-like flapping can be successfully ‘scaled up’ to produce a flapping-wing micro air vehicle (FMAV) and the results presented here suggest that this should be the case.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document