scholarly journals The influence of flight style on the aerodynamic properties of avian wings as fixed lifting surfaces

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2495 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. Lees ◽  
Grigorios Dimitriadis ◽  
Robert L. Nudds
Keyword(s):  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Wing Shape ◽  
Minimum Drag ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Aerodynamic Properties ◽  
Primary Driver ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Lifting Surfaces

The diversity of wing morphologies in birds reflects their variety of flight styles and the associated aerodynamic and inertial requirements. Although the aerodynamics underlying wing morphology can be informed by aeronautical research, important differences exist between planes and birds. In particular, birds operate at lower, transitional Reynolds numbers than do most aircraft. To date, few quantitative studies have investigated the aerodynamic performance of avian wings as fixed lifting surfaces and none have focused upon the differences between wings from different flight style groups. Dried wings from 10 bird species representing three distinct flight style groups were mounted on a force/torque sensor within a wind tunnel in order to test the hypothesis that wing morphologies associated with different flight styles exhibit different aerodynamic properties. Morphological differences manifested primarily as differences in drag rather than lift. Maximum lift coefficients did not differ between groups, whereas minimum drag coefficients were lowest in undulating flyers (Corvids). The lift to drag ratios were lower than in conventional aerofoils and data from free-flying soaring species; particularly in high frequency, flapping flyers (Anseriformes), which do not rely heavily on glide performance. The results illustrate important aerodynamic differences between the wings of different flight style groups that cannot be explained solely by simple wing-shape measures. Taken at face value, the results also suggest that wing-shape is linked principally to changes in aerodynamic drag, but, of course, it is aerodynamics during flapping and not gliding that is likely to be the primary driver.

scholarly journals Physical and Aerodynamic Properties of Lavender in relation to Harvest Mechanisation

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Christos I. Dimitriadis ◽  
James L. Brighton ◽  
Mike J. O’Dogherty ◽  
Maria I. Kokkora ◽  
Anastasios I. Darras
Keyword(s):  
Surface Area ◽  
Drag Force ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Ultimate Tensile Stress ◽  
Flower Head ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Aerodynamic Properties ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Harvest Moisture

A laboratory study evaluated the physical and aerodynamic properties of lavender cultivars in relation to the design of an improved lavender harvester that allows removal of flowers from the stem using the stripping method. The identification of the flower head adhesion, stem breakage, and aerodynamic drag forces were conducted using an Instron 1122 instrument. Measurements on five lavender cultivars at harvest moisture content showed that the overall mean flower detachment force from the stem was 11.2 N, the mean stem tensile strength was 36.7 N, and the calculated mean ultimate tensile stress of the stem was 17.3 MPa. The aerodynamic measurements showed that the drag force is related with the flower surface area. Increasing the surface area of the flower head by 93% of the “Hidcote” cultivar produced an increase in drag force of between 24.8% and 50.6% for airflow rates of 24 and 65 m s−1, respectively. The terminal velocities of the flower heads of the cultivar ranged between 4.5 and 5.9 m s−1, which results in a mean drag coefficient of 0.44. The values of drag coefficients were compatible with well-established values for the appropriate Reynolds numbers.

Flight

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Hedenström
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Micro Air Vehicles ◽  
Leading Edge Vortex ◽  
Confined Spaces ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamic ◽  
Maneuvering Flight ◽  
Edge Vortex ◽  
Lifting Surfaces ◽  
Animal Flight

Animal flight represents a great challenge and model for biomimetic design efforts. Powered flight at low speeds requires not only appropriate lifting surfaces (wings) and actuator (engine), but also an advanced sensory control system to allow maneuvering in confined spaces, and take-off and landing. Millions of years of evolutionary tinkering has resulted in modern birds and bats, which are achieve controlled maneuvering flight as well as hovering and cruising flight with trans-continental non-stop migratory flights enduring several days in some bird species. Unsteady aerodynamic mechanisms allows for hovering and slow flight in insects, birds and bats, such as for example the delayed stall with a leading edge vortex used to enhance lift at slows speeds. By studying animal flight with the aim of mimicking key adaptations allowing flight as found in animals, engineers will be able to design micro air vehicles of similar capacities.

Extra Drag Force on a Circular Cylinder Due to the Presence of Solid Particles in Subsonic Compressible Flow

1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley B. Mellsen
Keyword(s):  
Compressible Flow ◽  
Incompressible Flow ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Collection Efficiency ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Circular Cylinders ◽  
Critical Mach Number ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Inertia Parameters

Abstract The effect of particles, such as dust in air on aerodynamic drag of circular cylinders was calculated for compressible flow at critical Mach number and for incompressible flow. The effect of compressibility was found negligible for particles larger than about 10 μm, for which the air can be considered a continuum. Drag coefficient and collection efficiency are provided for a wide range of inertia parameters and Reynolds numbers for both compressible and incompressible flow.

The aerodynamic resistance to a rotating sphere in the transition régime between free molecule and continuum creep flow

1964 ◽  
Vol 279 (1376) ◽  
pp. 39-49 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rarefied Gas ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Aerodynamic Resistance ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Approximate Theory ◽  
Drag Torque ◽  
Free Molecule ◽  
Steel Sphere ◽  
Creep Flow ◽  
Wide Range

An experimental and theoretical study has been made of the aerodynamic drag torque on a sphere rotating in a rarefied gas. The drag torque on a magnetically suspended polished steel sphere rotating in air was measured over a wide range of Knudsen numbers from continuum to free molecule flow and for several different Mach numbers up to ca . 1. The drag under free molecule conditions was found to be consistent with the assumption of perfectly diffuse reflexion of molecules at the surface of the rotor. An approximate theory is derived which is analogous to Millikan’s solution to the problem of plane Couette flow and is valid for low Mach and Reynolds numbers. Theory and experiment are found to agree to within 10 % in the range investigated, for Reynolds numbers less than ca . 20.

A Numerical Study Into the Influence of Leading Edge Tubercles on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Highly Cambered High Lift Airfoil Wing at Different Reynolds Numbers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amr Abdelrahman ◽  
Amr Emam ◽  
Ihab Adam ◽  
Hamdy Hassan ◽  
Shinichi Ookawara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Method ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Passive Flow Control ◽  
Passive Flow ◽  
Stall Angle ◽  
Lifting Surfaces ◽  
Lift And Drag

Abstract Through the last two decades, many studies have demonstrated the ability of leading-edge protrusions (tubercles), inspired from the pectoral flippers of the humpback whale, to be an effective passive flow control method for the stall phase of an airfoil in some cases depending on the geometrical features and the flow regime. Nevertheless, there is a little work associated with revealing tubercles performance for the lifting surfaces with a highly cambered cross-section, used in numerous applications. The present work aims to investigate the effect of implementing leading edge tubercles on the performance of an infinite span rectangular wing with the highly cambered S1223 foil at different flow regimes. Two sets; baseline one and a modified with tubercles have been studied at Re = 0.1 × 106, 0.3 × 106 and 1.5 × 106 using computational fluid dynamics with a validated model. The numerical results demonstrated that Tubercles have the ability to entirely alter the flow structure over the airfoil, confining the separation to troughs, hence, softening the stall characteristics. However, the tubercle modification expedites the presence of the stalled flow over the suction side, lowering the stall angle for the three mentioned Reynolds numbers. While, no considerable difference occurs in lift and drag before the stall.

Flow Control Using Active Dimples

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Udovidchik ◽  
Sebastien Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Flow Control ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Spherical Shape ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Synthetic Jets ◽  
Actuation Frequency ◽  
Flux Change ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
Smart Surface

In this study, a novel concept of using active dimples for flow control is introduced. It is widely known that dimples on a golf ball dramatically reduce its aerodynamic drag. They are much more effective than surface roughness since the hollow spherical shape produces cavity flow, thus the drag coefficient remains relatively constant at higher Reynolds numbers. It has also been shown by previous studies that by use of circular-arc grooves or dimples, the separation point on a cylinder could be regulated and drag reduced due to the re-circulation occurring in the dimpled surface. Another approach to flow separation that uses the concept of momentum-flux change by near-wall manipulation is an active one, such as synthetic jets or acoustical excitation. The long-term goal of this study is to merge these two approaches and create a continuous smart surface that would have active depressions, which would then be actuated at desired frequencies and conform to a desired shape for optimal results. Current investigation had only touched the tip of the iceberg of this new and unexplored field. In order to begin to comprehend the complexity of the fluid mechanics of the active dimples, a dual focus had been outlined in this study. The first focused on the investigation of a single active dimple on a flat plate, while the latter investigated the effect of a row consisting of such devices on a circular cylinder. The main factors of interest are optimal actuation frequency and dimple positioning relative to the freestream.

scholarly journals Wake structure and wingbeat kinematics of a house-martin Delichon urbica

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (15) ◽  
pp. 659-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Rosén ◽  
G.R Spedding ◽  
A Hedenström
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Laminar Flows ◽  
Frequency Model ◽  
Wake Structure ◽  
Global Circulation ◽  
Weight Support ◽  
House Martin ◽  
Lifting Surfaces ◽  
Thrush Nightingale ◽  
Slender Wing

The wingbeat kinematics and wake structure of a trained house martin in free, steady flight in a wind tunnel have been studied over a range of flight speeds, and compared and contrasted with similar measurements for a thrush nightingale and a pair of robins. The house martin has a higher aspect ratio (more slender) wing, and is a more obviously agile and aerobatic flyer, catching insects on the wing. The wingbeat is notable for the presence at higher flight speeds of a characteristic pause in the upstroke. The essential characteristics of the wing motions can be reconstructed with a simple two-frequency model derived from Fourier analysis. At slow speeds, the distribution of wake vorticity is more simple than for the other previously measured birds, and the upstroke does not contribute to weight support. The upstroke becomes gradually more significant as the flight speed increases, and although the vortex wake shows a signature of the pause phase, the global circulation measurements are otherwise in good agreement with surprisingly simple aerodynamic models, and with predictions across the different species, implying quite similar aerodynamic performance of the wing sections. The local Reynolds numbers of the wing sections are sufficiently low that the well-known instabilities of attached laminar flows over lifting surfaces, which are known to occur at two to three times this value, may not develop.

Experimental investigation of the aerodynamic drag of roof-mounted insulators for trains

2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (8) ◽  
pp. 834-846
Author(s):  
Jonathan Tschepe ◽  
Jörg-Torsten Maaß ◽  
Christian Navid Nayeri ◽  
Christian Oliver Paschereit
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Aerodynamic Resistance ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Flexible Material ◽  
High Speed Trains ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents the results of experimental investigations on the aerodynamic drag of roof-mounted insulators for use on low- and high-speed trains. Wind tunnel investigations at different Reynolds numbers in the subcritical, critical, and supercritical flow regime were performed, in addition to investigations using wall-mounted cylinders. Furthermore, the impact of insulator sheds made of flexible material was analyzed. For a better understanding of the aerodynamic behavior of the insulators when mounted on trains, different boundary conditions representing realistic configurations as found on the roof of trains were simulated. From the measured drag, the energy demand to overcome the aerodynamic resistance of different types of insulators was calculated. Depending on the above mentioned boundary conditions, a noticeable contribution of the insulators to the entire train's aerodynamic drag could be observed. With flexible insulator sheds, a further increased air resistance was observed with the onset of fluttering. Similar to the cylinder, the aerodynamic behavior of the insulators depends on the respective Reynolds number.

scholarly journals Morphology predicts species' functional roles and their degree of specialization in plant–frugivore interactions

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1823) ◽  
pp. 20152444 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Matthias Dehling ◽  
Pedro Jordano ◽  
H. Martin Schaefer ◽  
Katrin Böhning-Gaese ◽  
Matthias Schleuning
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Functional Differences ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Interaction Partners ◽  
Role Based ◽  
Morphological Differences

Species' functional roles in key ecosystem processes such as predation, pollination or seed dispersal are determined by the resource use of consumer species. An interaction between resource and consumer species usually requires trait matching (e.g. a congruence in the morphologies of interaction partners). Species' morphology should therefore determine species' functional roles in ecological processes mediated by mutualistic or antagonistic interactions. We tested this assumption for Neotropical plant–bird mutualisms. We used a new analytical framework that assesses a species's functional role based on the analysis of the traits of its interaction partners in a multidimensional trait space. We employed this framework to test (i) whether there is correspondence between the morphology of bird species and their functional roles and (ii) whether morphologically specialized birds fulfil specialized functional roles. We found that morphological differences between bird species reflected their functional differences: (i) bird species with different morphologies foraged on distinct sets of plant species and (ii) morphologically distinct bird species fulfilled specialized functional roles. These findings encourage further assessments of species' functional roles through the analysis of their interaction partners, and the proposed analytical framework facilitates a wide range of novel analyses for network and community ecology.

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