On the aerodynamics of moult gaps in birds

1999 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hedenström ◽  
S. Sunada
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Vortex Lattice ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Gap Size ◽  
Elliptical Distribution ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Lift Curve ◽  
Wing Moult ◽  
Wing Tip

During the moult, birds sequentially replace their flight feathers and thus temporarily have gaps in their wings. These gaps will vary in size and position(s) during the course of the moult. We investigated the aerodynamic effects of having moult gaps in a rectangular wing by using a vortex-lattice (panel) approach, and we modelled the effect of moult gap size at the wing moult initiation position, of gap position in the primary tract and of two simultaneous gaps (as occurs during secondary feather moulting in many birds). Both gap size and gap position had a detrimental effect on aerodynamic performance as measured by lift curve slope, effective aspect ratio and the aerodynamic efficiency of the wing. The effect was largest when the moult gap was well inside the wing, because the circulation declines close to the wing tip. In fact, when the gap was at the wing tip, the performance was slightly increased because the lift distribution then became closer to the optimal elliptical distribution. The detrimental effect of moult gaps increased with increasing aspect ratio, which could help to explain why large birds have relatively slow rates of moult associated with small gaps.

Effect of aspect ratio variation on subsonic aerodynamics of cascade type grid fin at different gap-to-chord ratios

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (1274) ◽  
pp. 472-498
Author(s):  
M. Tripathi ◽  
M.M. Sucheendran ◽  
A. Misra
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Grid Fin ◽  
Stall Angle ◽  
Control Surfaces ◽  
Cascade Type ◽  
Limiting Value ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACTThis paper dwells upon investigating the effect of aspect ratio (AR) variation on the aerodynamic performance of unconventional control surfaces called grid fins by virtue of a series of subsonic experiments on a simplified grid fin variant called the cascade fin. Wind tunnel tests were performed for different AR (variable span) grid fins. The same had been investigated for different gap-to-chord ratio (g/c) variants. Results demonstrated a tangible increase in the aerodynamic efficiency as well as stall angle reduction for higher AR. Moreover, higher AR leads to increased pitching moment, which emphasizes elevated hinge moment requirements. The study ensued the presence of higher deviation between the low AR fins, that is $AR<2$ compared to the pertinent deviations between the high AR fins, that is $AR\geq2$ . The effect associated with these variations was termed as span effect in this paper. It was established that, the deviations arising due to this phenomena were lesser for higher g/c and higher AR. The analysis of AR variation for different g/c presented a limiting value of AR reduction for stall performance enhancement. Thus, optimised selection of the g/c and AR values can lead to enhanced aerodynamic efficiency alongside an improved stalling characteristic.

scholarly journals Preliminary investigation of use of flexible folding wing tips for static and dynamic load alleviation

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (1235) ◽  
pp. 73-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Castrichini ◽  
V. Hodigere Siddaramaiah ◽  
D.E. Calderon ◽  
J.E. Cooper ◽  
T. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Dynamic Loads ◽  
Induced Drag ◽  
Aeroelastic Model ◽  
Static And Dynamic Loads ◽  
Folding Wing ◽  
Wing Tips ◽  
Wing Tip

ABSTRACTA recent consideration in aircraft design is the use of folding wing-tips with the aim of enabling higher aspect ratio aircraft with less induced drag while also meeting airport gate limitations. This study investigates the effect of exploiting folding wing-tips in flight as a device to reduce both static and dynamic loads. A representative civil jet aircraft aeroelastic model was used to explore the effect of introducing a wing-tip device, connected to the wings with an elastic hinge, on the load behaviour. For the dynamic cases, vertical discrete gusts and continuous turbulence were considered. The effects of hinge orientation, stiffness, damping and wing-tip weight on the static and dynamic response were investigated. It was found that significant reductions in both the static and dynamic loads were possible. For the case considered, a 25% increase in span using folding wing-tips resulted in almost no increase in loads.

scholarly journals Enhanced Plasmonic Resonance Characteristics of AgNRs–Gold Film Hybrid System

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanping Yin ◽  
Jin Zhu ◽  
Zaoji Wang ◽  
Guojun Ma ◽  
Huining Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Refractive Index ◽  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Gold Film ◽  
Spectral Response ◽  
Surrounding Medium ◽  
Resonance Wavelength ◽  
Spectral Shift ◽  
Refractive Index Sensor ◽  
Gap Size ◽  
Refractive Index Sensitivity

In recent years, the plasma gap resonance maintained by metal-film-coupled nanostructures has attracted extensive attention. This mainly originates from its flexible control of the spectral response and significantly enhanced field strength at the nanoparticle–film junction. In the present study, the tunability of local surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of nanorods coupled to a gold film is studied theoretically. To this end, the plasmonic resonances in the nanostructure of individual silver nanorod–gold film (AgNR-film) with different parameters are investigated. Obtained results show that the refractive index sensitivity (S) of nanostructures to the environment increases as the aspect ratio (Ar) of nanostructures increase. It is found that when the aspect ratio (Ar) is set to 3.5, the figure of merit (FOM) is the highest. Moreover, the variation in the gap distances of the nanorod monomer–gold film, electric field distribution of nanorods dimer, and the corresponding impact on the gold film are studied. It is concluded that the gap size of nanostructures has an exponential correlation with the resonance wavelength. Considering the remarkable influence of the gap size and the surrounding medium environment on the spectral shift of AgNR-film nanostructures, potential applications of the structure as a refractive index sensor and biomolecule measurement are proposed.

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.

Leading Edge and Wing Tip Flow Control on Low Aspect Ratio Wings

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Vey ◽  
David Greenblatt ◽  
Christian Nayeri ◽  
Christian Paschereit
Keyword(s):  
Aspect Ratio ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Low Aspect Ratio ◽  
Wing Tip ◽  
Low Aspect Ratio Wings

A Study of Water Surface Deformation Due to Tip Vortices Wing-in-Ground Effect

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (02) ◽  
pp. 182-186
Author(s):  
Tracie J. Barber
Keyword(s):  
Water Surface ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Ground Effect ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
The Body ◽  
Vehicle Design ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Tip Vortices ◽  
Wing Tip

The accurate prediction of ground effect aerodynamics is an important aspect of wing-in-ground (WIG) effect vehicle design. When WIG vehicles operate over water, the deformation of the nonrigid surface beneath the body may affect the aerodynamic performance of the craft. The likely surface deformation has been considered from a theoretical and numerical position. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional cases have been considered, and results show that any deformation occurring on the water surface is likely to be caused by the wing tip vortices rather than an increased pressure distribution beneath the wing.

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