Lift Production on Flapping and Rotary Wings at Low Reynolds Numbers

Abstract

The objective of this research was to identify the mechanisms of lift production on models of an entomological flapping wing stroke by evaluating the relative importance of the leading edge vortex, other coherent vortical structures in the flow, bound circulation, and non-circulatory forcing. The entomological wing stroke was modeled as a combination of wing pitch and rotation. In collaboration with the NATO AVT-202 task group on "Extensions of Fundamental Flow Physics to Practical MAV Aerodynamics'', the rectilinear analogs of these rotational motions were also studied. By comparing both pitching and surging wings in rectilinear and rotational motion over a range of accelerations, it was found that the strength and trajectory of the leading edge vortex had a significant impact on the lift production of a wing undergoing highly unsteady kinematics. The vortex need not be attached to the wing to affect a lift force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 26, 2016
Accession Number
AD1004749

Entities

People

  • Anya R. Jones

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Autonomy
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Electronic Mail
  • Flow Fields
  • Flow Visualization
  • Fluid Dynamics
  • Kinematics
  • Leading Edges
  • Physics
  • Production
  • Reynolds Number
  • Rotation
  • Steady State
  • Three Dimensional
  • Trailing Edges
  • Turbulent Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics/Aeronautics.
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)