Aerodynamic performance of albatross-inspired wing shape for marine unmanned air vehicles

Evolutionary shape optimisation enhances the lift coefficient of rotating wing geometries

Journal of Fluid Mechanics ◽

10.1017/jfm.2019.183 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 868 ◽

pp. 369-384 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shantanu S. Bhat ◽

Jisheng Zhao ◽

John Sheridan ◽

Kerry Hourigan ◽

Mark C. Thompson

Keyword(s):

Reynolds Number ◽

Lift Coefficient ◽

Micro Air Vehicles ◽

Aerodynamic Performance ◽

Wing Shape ◽

Shape Optimisation ◽

Large Area ◽

Aerodynamic Pressure ◽

Performance Requirements ◽

Air Vehicles

Wing shape is an important factor affecting the aerodynamic performance of wings of monocopters and flapping-wing micro air vehicles. Here, an evolutionary structural optimisation method is adapted to optimise wing shape to enhance the lift force due to aerodynamic pressure on the wing surfaces. The pressure distribution is observed to vary with the span-based Reynolds number over a range covering most insects and samaras. Accordingly, the optimised wing shapes derived using this evolutionary approach are shown to adjust with Reynolds number. Moreover, these optimised shapes exhibit significantly higher lift coefficients (${\sim}50\,\%$) than the initial rectangular wing forebear. Interestingly, the optimised shapes are found to have a large area outboard, broadly in line with the features of high-lift forewings of multi-winged insects. According to specific aerodynamic performance requirements, this novel method could be employed in the optimisation of improved wing shapes for micro air vehicles.

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Insights into Sensitivity of Wing Shape and Kinematic Parameters Relative to Aerodynamic Performance of Flapping Wing Nano Air Vehicles

Drones ◽

10.3390/drones3020049 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 49 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

G. Throneberry ◽

M. Hassanalian ◽

A. Abdelkefi

Keyword(s):

Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽

Aerodynamic Performance ◽

Flapping Wing ◽

Wing Shape ◽

Physical Factors ◽

Kinematic Parameters ◽

Aerodynamic Forces ◽

Hovering Flight ◽

Time Histories ◽

Air Vehicles

In this work, seven wings inspired from insects’ wings, including those inspired by the bumblebee, cicada, cranefly, fruitfly, hawkmoth, honeybee, and twisted parasite, are patterned and analyzed in FlapSim software in forward and hovering flight modes for two scenarios, namely, similar wingspan (20 cm) and wing surface (0.005 m2). Considering their similar kinematics, the time histories of the aerodynamic forces of lift, thrust, and required mechanical power of the inspired wings are calculated, shown, and compared for both scenarios. The results obtained from FlapSim show that wing shape strongly impacts the performance and aerodynamic characteristics of the chosen seven wings. To study the effects of different geometrical and physical factors including flapping frequency, elevation amplitude, pronation amplitude, stroke-plane angle, flight speed, wing material, and wingspan, several analyses are carried out on the honeybee-inspired shape, which had a 20 cm wingspan. This study can be used to evaluate the efficiency of different bio-inspired wing shapes and may provide a guideline for comparing the performance of flapping wing nano air vehicles with forward flight and hovering capabilities.

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