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Influences of flapping modes and wing kinematics on aerodynamic performance of insect hovering flight

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Abstract

A numerical investigation into the effects of flapping modes on the aerodynamic performance of insect hovering flight is carried out through the solution of the two-dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. Four types of idealized flapping modes with the identical quasi-steady lift force are compared, and the influences of the Reynolds number (Re), the translational duration and the rotational duration on the aerodynamic characteristics of the hovering are systematically analyzed flight. It is found that the instantaneous aerodynamic forces of the wing differ significantly in each flapping mode. The mode with harmonic translation and harmonic rotation leading the highest lifting efficiency is suitable for long-time flight while the mode with harmonic translation and trapezoid rotation giving the largest instantaneous forces is suitable for maneuvering flight. When Re increases from 100 to 1000, the lift force and lifting efficiency of the wing are increased significantly with the increasing Re first, and then slow down with the further increase in Re. In addition, the fast-translational mode with short translational duration will reduce the time-averaged lift force and the efficiency, whereas the fastrotational mode with short rotational duration can enhance the time-averaged lift force with the sustained efficiency.

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Abbreviations

A m :

Amplitude of the translation motion

c :

Chord length of the wing

C D :

Drag coefficient

C L :

Lift coefficient

C P :

Energy coefficient

C Dm :

Time-averaged drag coefficient

C Lm :

Time-averaged lift coefficient

C Pm :

Time-averaged energy coefficient

F D :

Drag force

F L :

Lift force

M :

Rotation moment

ρ :

Fluid pressure

P(t) :

Energy consumption

Re :

Reynolds number

T :

Flapping period

U ref :

Reference velocity

V H(t) :

Instantaneous harmonic translational velocity

V m1 :

Maximum velocity for harmonic mode

V T(t) :

Instantaneous trapezoidal translational velocity

V m2 :

Maximum velocity for trapezoidal mode

xoy :

Trajectory coordinate system

x(t) :

Translation displacement

α(t) :

Angle between the wing chord and stroke plane

α H(t) :

Instantaneous harmonic rotational angle of attack

α T(t) :

Instantaneous trapezoidal rotational angle of attack

α 10 :

Initial angle of attack of harmonic mode

α 1m :

Rotation amplitude of harmonic mode

α 20 :

Initial angle of attack of trapezoidal mode

α 2m :

Rotation amplitude of trapezoidal mode

η :

Lifting efficiency

μ :

Fluid kinematic viscosity

ρ :

Fluid density

Δtr :

Time interval over the rotational acceleration last

Δtt :

Time interval over the translational acceleration last

ω(t) :

Angular velocity

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Acknowledgments

The work described in this paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U1613227), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province of China (No. 2018A030310045), the KEY Laboratory of Robotics and Intelligent Equipment of Guangdong Regular Institutions of Higher Education (No. 2017KSYS009) and the DGUT innovation center of robotics and intelligent equipment of China (No. KCYCXPT2017006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Dongguan, 523000, China

    Chao Wang

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Harbin University of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Chao Wang, Chaoying Zhou & Xiaorui Zhu

Authors
  1. Chao Wang
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  2. Chaoying Zhou
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  3. Xiaorui Zhu
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Correspondence to Chao Wang.

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Recommended by Editor Yang Na

Chao Wang received his B.E., M.E. and D.E. degrees in Harbin Institute of Technology, People’s Republic of China. He is currently an Assistant Professor of School of Mechanical Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, People’s Republic of China. His research interests include flapping flight aerodynamics and flapping micro aerial vehicle design.

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Wang, C., Zhou, C. & Zhu, X. Influences of flapping modes and wing kinematics on aerodynamic performance of insect hovering flight. J Mech Sci Technol 34, 1603–1612 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-0322-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-020-0322-1

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