Measurement of Thrust and Lift Forces Associated With Drag of Compliant Flapping Wing for Micro Air Vehicles Using a New Test Stand Design

Compliant wing designs have the potential of improving flapping wing Micro-Air Vehicles (MAVs). Designing compliant wings requires a detailed understanding of the effect of compliance on the generation of thrust and lift forces. The low force and high-frequency measurements associated with these forces necessitated a new versatile test stand design that uses a 250 g load cell along with a rigid linear air bearing to minimize friction and the dynamic behavior of the test stand while isolating only the stationary thrust or lift force associated with drag generated by the wing. Moreover, this stand is relatively inexpensive and hence can be easily utilized by wing designers to optimize the wing compliance and shape. The frequency response of the wing is accurately resolved, along with wing compliance on the thrust and lift profiles. The effects of the thrust and lift force generated as a function of flapping frequency were also determined. A semi-empirical aerodynamic model of the thrust and lift generated by the flapping wing MAV on the new test stand was developed and used to evaluate the measurements. This model accounted for the drag force and the effects of the wing compliance. There was good correlation between the model predictions and experimental measurements. Also, the increase in average thrust due to increased wing compliance was experimentally quantified for the first time using the new test stand. Thus, our measurements for the first time reveal the detrimental influence of excessive compliance on drag forces during high frequency operation. In addition, we were also able to observe the useful effect of compliance on the generation of extra thrust at the beginning and end of upstrokes and downstrokes of the flapping motion.     

Aerodynamic Performance of a Gliding Swallowtail Butterfly Wing Model

In the present study, we perform a wind-tunnel experiment to investigate the aerodynamic performance of a gliding swallowtail-butterfly wing model having a low aspect ratio. The drag, lift and pitching moment are directly measured using a 6-axis force/torque sensor. The lift coefficient increases rapidly at attack angles less than 10° and then slowly at larger attack angles. The lift coefficient does not fall off rapidly even at quite high angles of attack, showing the characteristics of low-aspect-ratio wings. On the other hand, the drag coefficient increases more rapidly at higher angles of attack due to the increase in the effective area responsible for the drag. The maximum lift-to-drag ratio of the present modeled swallowtail butterfly wing is larger than those of wings of fruitfly and bumblebee, and even comparable to those of wings of birds such as the petrel and starling. From the measurement of pitching moment, we show that the modeled swallowtail butterfly wing has a longitudinal static stability. Flow visualization shows that the flow separated from the leading edge reattaches on the wing surface at α < 15°, forming a small separation bubble, and full separation occurs at α ≥ 15°. On the other hand, strong wing-tip vortices are observed in the wake at α ≥ 5° and they are an important source of the lift as well as the main reason for broad stall. Finally, in the absence of long hind-wing tails, the lift and longitudinal static stability are reduced, indicating that the hind-wing tails play an important role in enhancing the aerodynamic performance.     

The aerodynamic forces and pressure distribution of a revolving pigeon wing

The aerodynamic forces acting on a revolving dried pigeon wing and a flat card replica were measured with a propeller rig, effectively simulating a wing in continual downstroke. Two methods were adopted: direct measurement of the reaction vertical force and torque via a forceplate, and a map of the pressures along and across the wing measured with differential pressure sensors. Wings were tested at Reynolds numbers up to 108,000, typical for slow-flying pigeons, and considerably above previous similar measurements applied to insect and hummingbird wing and wing models. The pigeon wing out-performed the flat card replica, reaching lift coefficients of 1.64 compared with 1.44. Both real and model wings achieved much higher maximum lift coefficients, and at much higher geometric angles of attack (43°), than would be expected from wings tested in a windtunnel simulating translating flight. It therefore appears that some high-lift mechanisms, possibly analogous to those of slow-flying insects, may be available for birds flapping with wings at high angles of attack. The net magnitude and orientation of aerodynamic forces acting on a revolving pigeon wing can be determined from the differential pressure maps with a moderate degree of precision. With increasing angle of attack, variability in the pressure signals suddenly increases at an angle of attack between 33° and 38°, close to the angle of highest vertical force coefficient or lift coefficient; stall appears to be delayed compared with measurements from wings in windtunnels.     

DERIVATION OF LIFT,DRAG AND THE KUTTA--JOUKOWSKI THEOREM FOR AIRCRAFTS 1)

本文介绍了空气动力学中几个基本概念与定律的起源。其中,升力与阻力分别是空气对物体作用力的两个方向上的分量,它们均是由空气与物体的相对运动而产生的,并与该运动速度的平方成正比。库塔儒可夫斯基升力环量定理给出了翼型升力与翼型绕流之间的关系,开启了20世纪早期各国对翼型性能的研究。同时,鉴于理想流体圆柱绕流无阻力的理论结果与实验观察存在的矛盾开始激发人们对黏性流体运动的研究兴趣,并由此诞生了纳维斯托克斯方程组。而后普朗特提出边界层概念,巧妙解决了局部流动与整体流动的关系问题。针对大展弦比直机翼,普朗特又提出了基于升力线假设的升力线模型,并根据翼型气动数据得到三维机翼的气动性能。     

Large aerodynamic forces on a sweeping wing at low Reynolds number

The aerodynamic forces and flow structure of a model insect wing is studied by solving the Navier-Stokes equations numerically. After an initial start from rest, the wing is made to execute an azimuthal rotation (sweeping) at a large angle of attack and constant angular velocity. The Reynolds number (Re) considered in the present note is 480 (Re is based on the mean chord length of the wing and the speed at 60% wing length from the wing root). During the constant-speed sweeping motion, the stall is absent and large and approximately constant lift and drag coefficients can be maintained. The mechanism for the absence of the stall or the maintenance of large aerodynamic force coefficients is as follows. Soon after the initial start, a vortex ring, which consists of the leading-edge vortex (LEV), the starting vortex, and the two wing-tip vortices, is formed in the wake of the wing. During the subsequent motion of the wing, a base-to-tip spanwise flow converts the vorticity in the LEV to the wing tip and the LEV keeps an approximately constant strength. This prevents the LEV from shedding. As a result, the size of the vortex ring increases approximately linearly with time, resulting in an approximately constant time rate of the first moment of vorticity, or approximately constant lift and drag coefficients. The variation of the relative velocity along the wing span causes a pressure gradient along the wingspan. The base-to-tip spanwise flow is mainly maintained by the pressure-gradient force. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10232010)     

Aerodynamic forces and flow fields of a two-dimensional hovering wing

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation on a two-dimensional (2-D) wing undergoing symmetric simple harmonic flapping motion. The purpose of this investigation is to study how flapping frequency (or Reynolds number) and angular amplitude affect aerodynamic force generation and the associated flow field during flapping for Reynolds number (Re) ranging from 663 to 2652, and angular amplitudes (α _A) of 30°, 45° and 60°. Our results support the findings of earlier studies that fluid inertia and leading edge vortices play dominant roles in the generation of aerodynamic forces. More importantly, time-resolved force coefficients during flapping are found to be more sensitive to changes in α _A than in Re. In fact, a subtle change in α _A may lead to considerable changes in the lift and drag coefficients, and there appears to be an optimal mean lift coefficient around α _A = 45°, at least for the range of flow parameters considered here. This optimal condition coincides with the development a reverse Karman Vortex street in the wake, which has a higher jet stream than a vortex dipole at α _A = 30° and a neutral wake structure at α _A = 60°. Although Re has less effect on temporal force coefficients and the associated wake structures, increasing Re tends to equalize mean lift coefficients (and also mean drag coefficients) during downstroke and upstroke, thus suggesting an increasing symmetry in the mean force generation between these strokes. Although the current study deals with a 2-D hovering motion only, the unique force characteristics observed here, particularly their strong dependence on α _A, may also occur in a three-dimensional hovering motion, and flying insects may well have taken advantage of these characteristics to help them to stay aloft and maneuver. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Aerodynamic mechanism of forces generated by twisting model-wing in bat flapping flight

The aerodynamic mechanism of the bat wing membrane Mong the lateral border of its body is studied. The twist-morphing that alters the angle of attack （AOA） along the span-wise direction is observed widely during bat flapping flight. An assumption is made that the linearly distributed AOA is along the span-wise direction. The plate with the aspect ratio of 3 is used to model a bat wing. A three-dimensional （3D） unsteady panel method is used to predict the aerodynamic forces generated by the flapping plate with leading edge separation. It is found that, relative to the rigid wing flapping, twisting motion can increase the averaged lift by as much as 25% and produce thrust instead of drag. Furthermore, the aerodynamic forces （lift/drag） generated by a twisting plate-wing are similar to those of a pitching rigid-wing, meaning that the twisting in bat flight has the same function as the supination/pronation motion in insect flight.     

Effects of unsteady deformation of flapping wing on its aerodynamic forces

Effects of unsteady deformation of a flapping model insect wing on its aerodynamic force production are studied by solving the Navier-Stokes equations on a dynamically deforming grid.Aerodynamic forces on the flapping wing are not much affected by considerable twist,but affected by camber deformation.The effect of combined camber and twist deformation is similar to that of camber deformation.With a deformation of 6% camber and 20°twist(typical values observed for wings of many insects),lift is increased bv 10%～20%and lift-to-drag ratio by around 10%compared with the case of a rigid flat-plate wing.As a result.the deformation can increase the maximum lift coefficient of an insect.and reduce its power requirement for flight.For example,for a hovering bumblebee with dynamically deforming wings(6?mber and 20°twist),aerodynamic power required is reduced by about 16%compared with the case of rigid wings.     

Experimental study on aerodynamic coefficients of yawed cylinders

This paper presents wind tunnel tests on a stationary cylinder inclined with the flow. The cylinder was positioned at different sets of yaw and vertical angles. The flow regime of the tests remained in the subcritical state. Two load cells were designed and installed to measure the aerodynamic forces, with enough sensitivity to measure vortex shedding frequencies. In this paper, the three aerodynamic force coefficients are normalized using the free stream velocity instead of its normal component. The results show that the drag coefficient and the resultant of the lift and side forces coefficients can be described by an empirical function of the incidence angle. The lift and side force coefficients remain however functions of both the horizontal yaw and vertical angles and cannot be expressed as functions of the incidence angle only. The Independence Principle was observed to become inaccurate for yaw angles larger than 40°. However, the measured Strouhal numbers indicate that the vortex shedding frequencies of a yawed cylinder can be predicted using the Independence Principle.     

On the aerodynamic characteristics of hovering rigid and flexible hawkmoth-like wings

Insect wings are subjected to fluid, inertia and gravitational forces during flapping flight. Owing to their limited rigidity, they bent under the influence of these forces. Numerical study by Hamamoto et al. (Adv Robot 21(1–2):1–21, 2007) showed that a flexible wing is able to generate almost as much lift as a rigid wing during flapping. In this paper, we take a closer look at the relationship between wing flexibility (or stiffness) and aerodynamic force generation in flapping hovering flight. The experimental study was conducted in two stages. The first stage consisted of detailed force measurement and flow visualization of a rigid hawkmoth-like wing undergoing hovering hawkmoth flapping motion and simple harmonic flapping motion, with the aim of establishing a benchmark database for the second stage, which involved hawkmoth-like wing of different flexibility performing the same flapping motions. Hawkmoth motion was conducted at Re = 7,254 and reduced frequency of 0.26, while simple harmonic flapping motion at Re = 7,800 and 11,700, and reduced frequency of 0.25. Results show that aerodynamic force generation on the rigid wing is governed primarily by the combined effect of wing acceleration and leading edge vortex generated on the upper surface of the wing, while the remnants of the wake vortices generated from the previous stroke play only a minor role. Our results from the flexible wing study, while generally supportive of the finding by Hamamoto et al. (Adv Robot 21(1–2):1–21, 2007), also reveal the existence of a critical stiffness constant, below which lift coefficient deteriorates significantly. This finding suggests that although using flexible wing in micro air vehicle application may be beneficial in term of lightweight, too much flexibility can lead to deterioration in flapping performance in terms of aerodynamic force generation. The results further show that wings with stiffness constant above the critical value can deliver mean lift coefficient almost the same as a rigid wing when executing hawkmoth motion, but lower than the rigid wing when performing a simple harmonic motion. In all cases studied (7,800 ≤ Re ≤ 11,700), the Reynolds number does not alter the force generation significantly.     

Effect of vortex shedding in unsteady aerodynamic forces for a low Reynolds number stationary wing at low angle of attack

This study elucidates the relation between wake vortex shedding and aerodynamic force fluctuations for a low Reynolds number wing from time resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) experimental measurements. The results reveal a periodic lift and drag variation within the shedding cycle and resolve the frequencies of those fluctuations from a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and power spectral density (PSD) analysis. To show the effect of vortex shedding on the body force fluctuations, the evolution of instantaneous aerodynamic forces is compared to the pressure field of the fluid flow and to the vortical structures in the wake of the airfoil. A six step model describing the vortex-force relation is proposed. It shows that changes in lift such as maximum lift and minimum lift are associated with the detachment of a vortex. It also shows that the minimum or local minimum drag value is obtained at the onset formation of a vortex on the airfoil wake. Similarly, the maximum or local maximum drag is obtained at the onset formation of the saddle on the airfoil wake. The model further explains the asymmetry observed in the unsteady drag force evolution. The model can be used to optimize flow control and fluid-structure interaction applications.     

Experimental investigation on aerodynamic performance of a flapping wing vehicle in forward flight

The aerodynamic performance of a flexible membrane flapping wing has been investigated here. For this purpose, a flapping-wing system and an experimental set-up were designed to measure the unsteady aerodynamic forces of the flapping wing motion. A one-component force balance was set up to record the temporal variations of aerodynamic forces. The flapping wing was studied in a large low-speed wind tunnel. The lift and thrust of this mechanism were measured for different flapping frequencies, angles of attack and for various wind tunnel velocities. Results indicate that the thrust increases with the flapping frequency. An increase in the wind tunnel speed and flow angle of attack leads to reduction in the thrust value and increases the lift component. The aerodynamic and performance parameters were nondimensionalized. Appropriate models were introduced which show its aerodynamic performance and may be used in the design process and also optimization of the flapping wing.     

Experimental benchmark of a free plunging wing with imposed flap oscillations

The validation of fluid–structure interaction solvers is difficult since there is a lack of experimental data. Therefore, in this work an aeroelastic experiment is presented. The focus is on the temporal coupling between fluid and structure dynamics. Issues in the spatial coupling are eliminated by using a rigid wing. The wing, with a harmonically actuated 0.2c trailing edge flap, has a degree of freedom in the plunge (vertical) direction. The wing has a chord of 0.5 m and is suspended with springs. The wing motion is constrained by a vertical rail system.For simplicity attached flow is desired and therefore the set angle of attack is α=0°. The Reynolds number is approximately Re=700 000 and the flap deflects over a range of about ±2°. The damped natural frequency of the structure expressed as a reduced frequency is about k=0.194 and measurements are performed for reduced flap frequencies ranging from k=0.1 to k=0.3. Displacements and time dependent aerodynamic forces are measured and for k=0.198 2-D PIV measurements are performed. The planar PIV measurements are used to intrinsically determine the unsteady loads using Noca׳s method.As expected the aeroelastic problem shows similarities with a viscously damped mass–damper–spring, meaning the maximum excursion of the wing is found near the system eigenfrequency. The lift is dominated by the flap motion and the effective angle of attack due to the motion introduces phase shifts of the lift signal with respect to the flap phase angle.The experiment has been set up and executed with the necessary precision, but small ambiguities are found in the lift and drag disqualifying the data for validation. Nevertheless the data set provides a clear insight into typical loads and motions and can be used for comparative studies. It can also be used to (re)design future experiments to improve the quality of the data to the desired level of accuracy for validation.     

Modification of static-wing tip vortex via a slender half-delta wing

The modification of the tip vortex generated by a rectangular NACA 0012 wing via a tip-mounted slender half-delta wing (HDW) was attempted experimentally at Re=2.81×10⁵. In addition to the increase in lift with increasing HDW deflection, compared to the baseline wing, the roll-up process of the tip vortex was also found to be significantly modified, as a result of the breakdown of the HDW vortex. The addition of the HDW also caused an increased total drag. Fortunately, the lift-induced drag was found to be reduced compared to its baseline counterpart for 0° and 5° HDW deflections. The change in the lift-induced drag also translates into a virtually unchanged profile drag, regardless of HDW deflection. In short, the largest lift-induced drag reduction achieved by the zero-deflection HDW resulted in an improved lift-to-drag ratio, at high angle-of-attack range, compared to the baseline wing.     

昆虫拍翼方式的非定常流动物理再探讨

基于提出的理论模化方法来探讨昆虫拍翼方式的非定常流动物理. 以悬停飞行为 例,通过对拍翼运动的分析,不仅解释了昆虫利用高频拍翼的方式为何能够克服低雷诺数带 来的气动局限性(St \gg 1/Re),而且还指出高升力产生和调节的3个流动 控制因素：(1) 由于拍翼的变速运动即时引起了流体动力响应,这种附加惯性效应 可产生瞬时的高升力; (2) 保持前缘涡不脱离翼面有助于减少升力的下降; (3) 增大后缘涡的强度并加速其脱离后缘能够有效地提高升力.     

Unsteady aerodynamic forces and power requirements of a bumblebee in forward flight

Aerodynamic forces and power requirements in forward flight in a bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) were studied using the method of computational fluid dynamics. Actual wing kinematic data of free flight were used in the study (the speed ranges from 0 m/s to 4.5 m/s; advance ratio ranges from 0–0.66). The bumblebee employs the delayed stall mechanism and the fast pitching-up rotation mechanism to produce vertical force and thrust. The leading-edge vortex does not shed in the translatory phase of the half-strokes and is much more concentrated than that of the fruit fly in a previous study. At hovering and low-speed flight, the vertical force is produced by both the half-strokes and is contributed by wing lift; at medium and high speeds, the vertical force is mainly produced during the downstroke and is contributed by both wing lift and wing drag. At all speeds the thrust is mainly produced in the upstroke and is contributed by wing drag. The power requirement at low to medium speeds is not very different from that of hovering and is relatively large at the highest speed (advance ratio 0.66), i.e. the power curve is J-shaped. Except at the highest flight speed, storing energy elastically can save power up to 20%–30%. At the highest speed, because of the large increase of aerodynamic torque and the slight decrease of inertial torque (due to the smaller stroke amplitude and stroke frequency used), the power requirement is dominated by aerodynamic power and the effect of elastic storage of energy on power requirement is limited.The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10232010) and the National Aeronautic Science fund of China (03A51049)The English text was polished by Xing Zhang.     

仿生扑翼飞行机器人翅型的研制与实验研究

模仿昆虫和小鸟飞行的扑翼飞行机器人将举升、悬停和推进功能集于一个扑翼系统,与固定翼和旋翼完全不同,因此研究只能从生物仿生开始。生物飞行的极端复杂性使得进行完整和精确的扑翼飞行分析非常复杂,因此本文在仿生学进展基础上,通过一些合适的假设和简化,建立了仿生翅运动学和空气动力学模型,并以此为基础研制了多种翅型。研制了气动力测量实验平台,对各种翅型进行了实验研究。实验结果表明,研制的翅型都能产生一定的升力,其中柔性翅具有较好的运动性能和气动性能,并且拍动频率和拍动幅度对升力有较大影响。     

Aerodynamic coefficients of a spinning sphere in a rarefied-gas flow

A three-dimensional rarefied-gas flow past a spinning sphere in the transitional and near-continuum flow regimes is studied numerically. The rarefaction and compressibility effects on the lateral (Magnus) force and the aerodynamic torque exerted on the sphere are investigated for the first time. The coefficients of the drag force, the Magnus force, and the aerodynamic torque are found for Mach numbers ranging from 0.1 to 2 and Knudsen numbers ranging from 0.05 to 20. In the transitional regime, at a certain Knudsen number depending on the Mach number the Magnus force direction changes. This change is attributable to the increase in the role of normal stresses and the decrease in the contribution of the shear stresses to the Magnus force with decrease in the Knudsen number. A semi-empirical formula for the calculation of the Magnus force coefficient in the transitional flow regime is proposed.     

扑翼飞行器带翼刀机翼气动特性实验研究

通过进行微型扑翼飞行器低速风洞试验,研究了带弯度机翼下翼面翼刀对扑翼飞行器升阻特性的影响。文中进行了带翼刀机翼和不带翼刀机翼在不同迎角下的风洞吹风试验。试验结果表明,带翼刀机翼升力系数大于不带翼刀机翼升力系数,从而证明了翼刀可以阻止机翼下表面气流展向流动,起到增加机翼升力的作用。当扑翼在小迎角飞行时,带翼刀机翼可以有效地提高扑翼的气动效率,改善扑翼的飞行性能。研究结果可为带翼刀机翼在扑翼飞行器上的应用提供技术支持。     

Aeroelastic inverse: Estimation of aerodynamic loads during large amplitude limit cycle oscillations

This paper presents an algorithm to compute the aerodynamic forces and moments of an aeroelastic wing undergoing large amplitude heave and pitch limit cycle oscillations. The technique is based on inverting the equations of motion to solve for the lift and moment experienced by the wing. Bayesian inferencing is used to estimate the structural parameters of the system and generate credible intervals on the lift and moment calculations. The inversion technique is applied to study the affect of mass coupling on limit cycle oscillation amplitude. Examining the force, power, and energy of the system, the reasons for amplitude growth with wind speed can be determined. The results demonstrate that the influence of mass coupling on the pitch–heave difference is the driving factor in amplitude variation. The pitch–heave phase difference not only controls how much aerodynamic energy is transferred into the system but also how the aerodynamic energy is distributed between the degrees of freedom.