昆虫飞行的空气动力学

昆虫是最早出现、数量最多和体积最小的飞行者,它们能悬停、跃升、急停、快速加速和转弯,飞行技巧十分高超,由于尺寸小,因而翅膀的相对速度很小,从而进行上述飞行所需的升力系数很大,但昆虫翅膀的雷诺数又很低。它们是如何在低雷诺数下产生高升力的,是流体力学和生物学工作者都十分关心的问题,近年来这一领域有了许多研究进展。该文对这些进展进行综述,并对今后工作提一些建议。因2005年前的工作已在几篇综述文章有了详细介绍,该文主要介绍2005年以来的工作。首先简述昆虫翅的拍动运动及昆虫绕流的基本方程和相似参数;然后对2005年之前的工作做一简要回顾。之后介绍2005年后的进展,依次为:运动学观测;前缘涡;翅膀柔性变形及皱褶的影响;拍动翅的尾涡结构;翼/身、左右翅气动干扰及地面效应;微小昆虫;蝴蝶与蜻蜓;机动飞行。最后为对今后工作的建议。     

昆虫飞行的高升力机理

对近年来关于昆虫产生非定常高升力的研究进行了综述和归纳.这方面的工作对生物学研究和微型飞行器等微型机械的仿生设计有重要意义.研究表明:果蝇等昆虫翅膀的拍动运动可产生很大的非定常升力,其平均值是定常值的2~3倍,足够平衡昆虫的重量,并有较大的富余用于机动飞行;产生高升力有三个因素:一是拍动开始阶段翅的快速加速运动,二是拍动中的不失速机制,三是拍动结束阶段翅的快速上仰运动.人们从能耗的角度考察了这些非定常高升力机制的正确性和可行性.当作悬停飞行的果蝇用以上机制产生平衡其重量的升力时,其比功率(支持单位身体质量所需的功率)约为29W/kg, 生化/机械效率约为17%. 这些值与人们基于对昆虫肌肉力学特性的研究所预估的值接近.果蝇前飞时,其比功率随速度变化的曲线是一J形曲线,而不是象飞机或鸟的那样是一U形曲线;这与人们基于昆虫新陈代谢率的测量数据所推断的结果一致.对于蜻蜒等(功能上)有前、后两对翅膀的昆虫,有以下初步结果:翅的下拍主要产生升力,上挥主要产生推力;下拍时的平均升力系数可达2~3,十分大,上挥时的平均推力系数可达1~2, 也很大,它们主要由非定常效应产生;前、后翅的相互干扰并未起增大升力和推力的作用,反而有一定的不利作用.      

昆虫是怎样飞行的

 简述昆虫翅的拍动运动及昆虫飞行的控制方式, 介绍昆虫飞行的空气动力学原理和人们对这些原理的认识过程.     

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。     

微型飞行器低雷诺数空气动力学

微型飞行器(MAVs)设计绝不是常规飞行器在尺度上的简单缩小,面临许多技术难题.其中微型飞行器低雷诺数空气动力学是其最为根本的技术瓶颈之一,也是当前受到广泛关注的热点之一.本文紧密结合微型飞行器技术,对这一领域中所面临的低雷诺数空气动力学问题和近两年来该方向国内一些新的进展进行了较为详细的介绍.按照MAVs飞行方式和结构特性进行分类,简单介绍微型飞行器研究中的低$Re$数空气动力学问题.首先介绍了二维和三维固定翼低雷诺数空气动力学问题:包括层流分离泡,翼型升力系数小攻角非线性效应,静态迟滞效应,以及低$Re$数小展弦比机翼气动特性.第2,介绍了拍动翼低雷诺数空气动力学方面的研究工作.包括前人提出的昆虫低$Re$数下获得高升力的多种非定常拍动翼飞行机制:Wagner效应、Weis-Fogh效应(clap-and-fling)、延迟失速效应(delayedstall)、Kramer效应(rotational forces)、尾迹捕获效应(wakecapture)、附加质量效应(addedmass)等.以及国内学者近几年在拍动翼方面取得的一些研究成果.第3,介绍了柔性翼低雷诺数气动问题.研究表明柔性翼对于固定翼微型飞行器提高抗阵风能力,拍动翼微型飞行器产生足够的升力和推力.最后简单介绍了可变形翼(morphingwing)微型飞行器方面的一些研究工作,指出微型飞行器技术可以通过采用可变形翼设计,突破众多的技术瓶颈.另一方面,可变形翼概念可以通过在低成本,低速的MAVs上进行飞行试验,获得非常好的验证平台.      

昆虫翅膀结构及其力学特性研究进展

昆虫普遍具有高超的飞行技巧,其翅膀是与飞行能力相适应的精巧结构．本文对近年来关于昆虫翅膀结构特征及其力学特性的研究内容进行综述．研究进展主要包括两个阶段：第一,重点关注昆虫翅膀轻薄而坚韧的整体结构,通过简单模型分析几何形状、三维构型、脉络分布等因素的影响;第二,聚焦翅膀上复杂而多样的微观结构,包括翅结、柔性关节和血淋巴流动等特征,研究它们在翅膀运动和变形中发挥的主动控制及被动效应．最后对未来可能的研究方向予以展望．     

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.     

蜻蜓滑翔时柔性褶皱前翅气动特性分析

蜻蜓是自然界优秀的飞行家,滑翔是其常见且有效的飞行模式.蜻蜓优异的飞行能力来源于其翅膀的巧妙结构,褶皱是蜻蜓翅膀上最为显著的结构之一,不仅提高了翅膀的刚度,还改变了其气动特性,而飞行过程中柔性翅膀会产生变形是蜻蜓翅膀的另一特性.为揭示蜻蜓在滑翔时,柔性褶皱前翅的变形,探究褶皱和柔性的共同作用对其气动特性的影响,基于逆向工程,依据前人的测量数据和研究成果,通过三维建模软件建立了蜻蜓三维褶皱前翅的计算流体力学(computational fluid dynamics,CFD)模型和计算结构力学(computational structural mechanics,CSD)模型,并通过模态分析验证了此模型有足够的精度.基于CFD方法和CFD/CSD双向流固耦合计算方法分别对蜻蜓滑翔飞行时刚性和柔性褶皱前翅的气动特性进行了数值模拟,结果表明,柔性褶皱前翅受气动载荷后,翅脉和翅膜产生形变,柔性前翅上下表面压力差相较于刚性前翅减小了,从而其升力和阻力也减小了,而在大攻角时,变形后的前缘脉诱导出比刚性前翅更强的前缘涡.因此在攻角小于10?时刚性前翅的气动特性优于柔性前翅,继续增大攻角,柔性前翅的气动特性则优于刚性前翅.前翅受载后气动响应时间短,翅尖的变形最大,仅仅产生了垂直于翅膀所在平面方向上的变形,而没有发生扭转,翼根处受到应力最大,褶皱上凸部分承受蜻蜓滑翔时前翅的主要载荷.     

蜻蜓滑翔时柔性褶皱前翅气动特性分析

蜻蜓是自然界优秀的飞行家,滑翔是其常见且有效的飞行模式.蜻蜓优异的飞行能力来源于其翅膀的巧妙结构,褶皱是蜻蜓翅膀上最为显著的结构之一,不仅提高了翅膀的刚度,还改变了其气动特性,而飞行过程中柔性翅膀会产生变形是蜻蜓翅膀的另一特性.为揭示蜻蜓在滑翔时,柔性褶皱前翅的变形,探究褶皱和柔性的共同作用对其气动特性的影响,基于逆向工程,依据前人的测量数据和研究成果,通过三维建模软件建立了蜻蜓三维褶皱前翅的计算流体力学(computational fluiddynamics,CFD)模型和计算结构力学(computational structuralmechanics,CSD)模型,并通过模态分析验证了此模型有足够的精度.基于CFD方法和CFD/CSD双向流固耦合计算方法分别对蜻蜓滑翔飞行时刚性和柔性褶皱前翅的气动特性进行了数值模拟,结果表明,柔性褶皱前翅受气动载荷后,翅脉和翅膜产生形变,柔性前翅上下表面压力差相较于刚性前翅减小了,从而其升力和阻力也减小了,而在大攻角时,变形后的前缘脉诱导出比刚性前翅更强的前缘涡.因此在攻角小于10$^\circ$时刚性前翅的气动特性优于柔性前翅,继续增大攻角,柔性前翅的气动特性则优于刚性前翅.前翅受载后气动响应时间短,翅尖的变形最大,仅仅产生了垂直于翅膀所在平面方向上的变形,而没有发生扭转,翼根处受到应力最大,褶皱上凸部分承受蜻蜓滑翔时前翅的主要载荷.      

模型昆虫翼作非定常i运动时的气动力特性

基于Navier-Stokes方程的数值解,研究了一模型昆虫翼在小雷诺数(Re=100)下作非定常运动时的气动力特性.这些运动包括翼启动后的常速转动,快速加、减速转动,常速转动中快速上仰(模拟昆虫翼的上挥或下拍、翻转等运动).有如下结果在小雷诺数下,模型昆虫翼以大攻角(α=35°)作常速转动运动时,由于失速涡不脱落,可产生较大的升力系数.其机理是翼转动时,翼尖附近(该处线速度大)上翼面压强比翼根附近(该处线速度小)的小得多,因而存在展向压强梯度,同时存在着沿展向的离心力,此展向压强梯度和离心力导致的展向流动在失速涡的轴向方向,其可避免失速涡脱落.模型昆虫翼在快速加、减速转动和快速上仰运动中,虽然雷诺数小,但由于在短时间内产生了大涡量,也可产生十分大的气动力,例如在快速上仰运动中,升力系数可大于10.     

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.     

Unsteady bio-fluid dynamics in flying and swimming

Flying and swimming in nature present sophisticated and exciting ventures in biomimetics, which seeks sustainable solutions and solves practical problems by emulating nature's time-tested patterns, functions, and strategies. Bio-fluids in insect and bird flight, as well as in fish swimming are highly dynamic and unsteady; however, they have been studied mostly with a focus on the phenomena associated with a body or wings moving in a steady flow. Characterized by unsteady wing flapping and body undulation, fluid-structure interactions, flexible wings and bodies, turbulent environments, and complex maneuver, bio-fluid dynamics normally have challenges associated with low Reynolds number regime and high unsteadiness in modeling and analysis of flow physics. In this article, we review and highlight recent advances in unsteady bio-fluid dynamics in terms of leading-edge vortices, passive mechanisms in flexible wings and hinges, flapping flight in unsteady environments, and micro-structured aerodynamics in flapping flight, as well as undulatory swimming, flapping-fin hydrodynamics, body–fin interac-tion, C-start and maneuvering, swimming in turbulence,collective swimming, and micro-structured hydrodynamics in swimming. We further give a perspective outlook on future challenges and tasks of several key issues of the field.     

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.     

昆虫飞行参数测量实验研究进展

在昆虫飞行的实验研究中,可采用活体实验、模型实验和活体模型结合三种方法。活体实验可以客观反映自然界中昆虫的飞行规律,获得真实的实验数据,但可重复性差。模型实验作为机械装置可以重复进行试验,详细描述流场结构并定量各种参数大小,但与真实飞行存在一定差距。单独使用这两种中的任一方法均可对一些现象给出了解释。二者相结合的方法更易于准确描述昆虫的运动特征,通过对比模型与活体的结果来提出机理,尽管需要的实验周期较长,但结论往往更接近真实状态,基于该方法科学家们已提出了几种飞行机理。本文结合近几年文献报道,综述了昆虫飞行参数测量方法,并对以上几种方法在研究昆虫飞行机理中的作用进行了对比分析,认为模型和活体结合的研究方法更容易为一些飞行现象提出合理解释。     

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF INSECT FLIGHT

In the non-inertial coordinates attached to the model wing, the two-dimensional unsteady flow field triggered by the motion of the model wing, similar to the flapping of the insect wings, was numerically simulated. One of the advantages of our method is that it has avoided the difficulty related to the moving-boundary problem. Another advantage is that the model has three degrees of freedom and can be used to simulate arbitrary motions of a two-dimensional wing in plane only if the motion is known. Such flexibility allows us to study how insects control their flying. Our results show that there are two parameters that are possibly utilized by insects to control their flight: the phase difference between the wing translation and rotation, and the lateral amplitude of flapping along the direction perpendicular to the average flapping plane.     

Characterization of vortical structures and loads based on time-resolved PIV for asymmetric hovering flapping flight

Flight agility, resistance to gusts, capability to hover coupled with a low noise generation might have been some of the reasons why insects are among the oldest species observed in nature. Biologists and aerodynamicists focused on analyzing such flight performances for diverse purposes: understanding the essence of flapping wings aerodynamics and applying this wing concept to the development of micro-air vehicles (MAVs). In order to put into evidence the fundamentally non-linear unsteady mechanisms responsible for the amount of lift generated by a flapping wing (Dickinson et al. in Science 284:1954–1960, 1999), experimental and numerical studies were carried out on typical insect model wings and kinematics. On the other hand, in the recent context of MAVs development, it is of particular interest to study simplified non-biological flapping configurations which could lead to lift and/or efficiency enhancement. In this paper, we propose a parametrical study of a NACA0012 profile undergoing asymmetric hovering flapping motions at Reynolds 1000. On the contrary to normal hovering, which has been widely studied as being the most common configuration observed in the world of insects, asymmetric hovering is characterized by an inclined stroke plane. Besides the fact that the vertical force is hence a combination of both lift and drag (Wang in J Exp Biol 207:1137–1150, 2004), the specificity of such motions resides in the vortex dynamics which present distinct behaviours, whether the upstroke angle of attack leads to a partially attached or a strong separated flow, giving more or less importance to the wake capture phenomenon. A direct consequence of the previous remarks relies on the enhancement of aerodynamic efficiency with asymmetry. If several studies reported results based on the asymmetric flapping motion of dragonfly, only few works concentrated on parametrizing asymmetric motions (e.g. Wang in Phys Rev Lett 85:2216–2219, 2000). The present study relies on TR-PIV measurements which allow determination of the vorticity fields and provide a basis to evaluate the resulting unsteady forces through the momemtum equation approach.