scholarly journals Allometry of wing twist and camber in a flower chafer during free flight: How do wing deformations scale with body size?

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 171152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yonatan Meresman ◽  
Gal Ribak
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Free Flight ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Adult Body Mass ◽  
Insect Wings ◽  
Wing Chord ◽  
Instantaneous Deformation ◽  
Wing Structure

Intraspecific variation in adult body mass can be particularly high in some insect species, mandating adjustment of the wing's structural properties to support the weight of the larger body mass in air. Insect wings elastically deform during flapping, dynamically changing the twist and camber of the relatively thin and flat aerofoil. We examined how wing deformations during free flight scale with body mass within a species of rose chafers (Coleoptera: Protaetia cuprea ) in which individuals varied more than threefold in body mass (0.38–1.29 g). Beetles taking off voluntarily were filmed using three high-speed cameras and the instantaneous deformation of their wings during the flapping cycle was analysed. Flapping frequency decreased in larger beetles but, otherwise, flapping kinematics remained similar in both small and large beetles. Deflection of the wing chord-wise varied along the span, with average deflections at the proximal trailing edge higher by 0.2 and 0.197 wing lengths compared to the distal trailing edge in the downstroke and the upstroke, respectively. These deflections scaled with wing chord to the power of 1.0, implying a constant twist and camber despite the variations in wing and body size. This suggests that the allometric growth in wing size includes adjustment of the flexural stiffness of the wing structure to preserve wing twist and camber during flapping.

scholarly journals Elastic wing deformations mitigate flapping asymmetry during manoeuvres in rose chafers (Protaetia cuprea)

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (24) ◽  
pp. jeb225599
Author(s):  
Yonatan Meresman ◽  
Gal Ribak
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Biomechanical Model ◽  
Inertial Forces ◽  
Flight Performance ◽  
Free Flight ◽  
Elastic Deformations ◽  
Insect Wings ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Intrinsic Musculature

ABSTRACTTo manoeuvre in air, flying animals produce asymmetric flapping between contralateral wings. Unlike the adjustable vertebrate wings, insect wings lack intrinsic musculature, preventing active control over wing shape during flight. However, the wings elastically deform as a result of aerodynamic and inertial forces generated by the flapping motions. How these elastic deformations vary with flapping kinematics and flight performance in free-flying insects is poorly understood. Using high-speed videography, we measured how contralateral wings elastically deform during free-flight manoeuvring in rose chafer beetles (Protaetia cuprea). We found that asymmetric flapping during aerial turns was associated with contralateral differences in chord-wise wing deformations. The highest instantaneous difference in deformation occurred during stroke reversals, resulting from differences in wing rotation timing. Elastic deformation asymmetry was also evident during mid-strokes, where wing compliance increased the angle of attack of both wings, but reduced the asymmetry in the angle of attack between contralateral wings. A biomechanical model revealed that wing compliance can increase the torques generated by each wing, providing higher potential for manoeuvrability, while concomitantly contributing to flight stability by attenuating steering asymmetry. Such stability may be adaptive for insects such as flower chafers that need to perform delicate low-speed landing manoeuvres among vegetation.

scholarly journals Exploitation of a Multifunctional Twistable Wing Trailing-Edge for Performance Improvement of a Turboprop 90-Seats Regional Aircraft

Aerospace ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Rea ◽  
Francesco Amoroso ◽  
Rosario Pecora ◽  
Frederic Moens
Keyword(s):  
Laminar Flow ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Limit Load ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Aircraft Wings ◽  
Actuation System ◽  
Load Carrying ◽  
Aircraft Performance ◽  
Wing Chord ◽  
Natural Laminar Flow

Modern transport aircraft wings have reached near-peak levels of energy-efficiency and there is still margin for further relevant improvements. A promising strategy for improving aircraft efficiency is to change the shape of the aircraft wing in flight in order to maximize its aerodynamic performance under all operative conditions. In the present work, this has been developed in the framework of the Clean Sky 2 (REG-IADP) European research project, where the authors focused on the design of a multifunctional twistable trailing-edge for a Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) wing. A multifunctional wing trailing-edge is used to improve aircraft performance during climb and off-design cruise conditions in response to variations in speed, altitude and other flight parameters. The investigation domain of the novel full-scale device covers 5.15 m along the wing span and the 10% of the local wing chord. Concerning the wing trailing-edge, the preliminary structural and kinematic design process of the actuation system is completely addressed: three rotary brushless motors (placed in root, central and tip sections) are required to activate the inner mechanisms enabling different trailing-edge morphing modes. The structural layout of the thin-walled closed-section composite trailing-edge represents a promising concept, meeting both the conflicting requirements of load-carrying capability and shape adaptivity. Actuation system performances and aeroelastic deformations, considering both operative aerodynamic and limit load conditions, prove the potential of the proposed structural concept to be energy efficient and lightweight for real aircraft implementation. Finally, the performance assessment of the outer natural laminar flow (NLF) wing retrofitted with the multifunctional trailing-edge is performed by high-fidelity aerodynamic analyses. For such an NLF wing, this device can improve airplane aerodynamic efficiency during high speed climb conditions.

scholarly journals Body size-dependent energy storage causes Kleiber’s law scaling of the metabolic rate in planarians

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Thommen ◽  
Steffen Werner ◽  
Olga Frank ◽  
Jenny Philipp ◽  
Oskar Knittelfelder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Scaling Law ◽  
Physiological Basis ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Adult Body Mass ◽  
Adult Body ◽  
Kleiber’S Law

Kleiber’s law, or the 3/4 -power law scaling of the metabolic rate with body mass, is considered one of the few quantitative laws in biology, yet its physiological basis remains unknown. Here, we report Kleiber’s law scaling in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Its reversible and life history-independent changes in adult body mass over 3 orders of magnitude reveal that Kleiber’s law does not emerge from the size-dependent decrease in cellular metabolic rate, but from a size-dependent increase in mass per cell. Through a combination of experiment and theoretical analysis of the organismal energy balance, we further show that the mass allometry is caused by body size dependent energy storage. Our results reveal the physiological origins of Kleiber’s law in planarians and have general implications for understanding a fundamental scaling law in biology.

scholarly journals Aerodynamics of inclined cylindrical bodies free-flying in a hypersonic flowfield

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick M. Seltner ◽  
Sebastian Willems ◽  
Ali Gülhan ◽  
Eric C. Stern ◽  
Joseph M. Brock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Static Stability ◽  
Free Flight ◽  
Aerodynamic Coefficients ◽  
Flow Topology ◽  
Motion Data ◽  
Continuous Rotation ◽  
German Aerospace

Abstract The influence of the flight attitude on aerodynamic coefficients and static stability of cylindrical bodies in hypersonic flows is of interest in understanding the re/entry of space debris, meteoroid fragments, launch-vehicle stages and other rotating objects. Experiments were therefore carried out in the hypersonic wind tunnel H2K at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne. A free-flight technique was employed in H2K, which enables a continuous rotation of the cylinder without any sting interferences in a broad angular range from 0$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ to 90$$^{\circ }$$ ∘ . A high-speed stereo-tracking technique measured the model motion during free-flight and high-speed schlieren provided documentation of the flow topology. Aerodynamic coefficients were determined in careful post-processing, based on the measured 6-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) motion data. Numerical simulations by NASA’s flow solvers Cart3D and US3D were performed for comparison purposes. As a result, the experimental and numerical data show a good agreement. The inclination of the cylinder strongly effects both the flowfield and aerodynamic loads. Experiments and simulations with concave cylinders showed marked difference in aerodynamic behavior due to the presence of a shock–shock interaction (SSI) near the middle of the model. Graphic abstract

scholarly journals Morphological determinants of jumping performance in the Iberian green frog

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-424
Author(s):  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda ◽  
Abelardo Requena-Blanco ◽  
Francisco J Zamora-Camacho ◽  
Mar Comas ◽  
Guillem Pascual
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Hind Limb ◽  
Limb Length ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Jumping Performance ◽  
Hind Limbs ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Pelophylax Perezi

Abstract Predation is one of the main selective forces in nature, frequently selecting potential prey for developing escape strategies. Escape ability is typically influenced by several morphological parameters, such as morphology of the locomotor appendices, muscular capacity, body mass, or fluctuating asymmetry, and may differ between sexes and age classes. In this study, we tested the relationship among these variables and jumping performance in 712 Iberian green frogs Pelophylax perezi from an urban population. The results suggest that the main determinant of jumping capacity was body size (explaining 48% of variance). Larger frogs jumped farther, but jumping performance reached an asymptote for the largest frogs. Once controlled by structural body size, the heaviest frogs jumped shorter distances, suggesting a trade-off between fat storage and jumping performance. Relative hind limb length also determined a small but significant percentage of variance (2.4%) in jumping performance—that is, the longer the hind limbs, the greater the jumping capacity. Juveniles had relatively shorter and less muscular hind limbs than adults (for a given body size), and their jumping performance was poorer. In our study population, the hind limbs of the frogs were very symmetrical, and we found no effect of fluctuating asymmetry on jumping performance. Therefore, our study provides evidence that jumping performance in frogs is not only affected by body size, but also by body mass and hind limb length, and differ between age classes.

Blood Circulation in Insect Wings

1964 ◽  
Vol 96 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 98-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Blood Circulation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Insect Wings ◽  
Wing Structure ◽  
Wing Veins ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Modified Forms ◽  
Surrounding Membrane

Despite their inert appearance, the wings of insects are living appendages and are supplied with blood. This is true for definitive wings as well as for developing ones, and for modified wings such as tegmina, elytra, hemelytra, and halteres as for those that are specialized for flight. Typically the blood circulates only through the wing veins, but in some insects it escapes into the surrounding membrane in certain areas, and in highly modified forms it may be entirely unconfined. The course of circulation is basically the same in the wings of most insects. It flows outward from the body in the costo-medial veins, moves toward the posterior margins via cross-veins, and returns to the body through the cubito-anal veins and axillary cord. However, rhe precise route followed is highly variable concomitant with distinctive patterns of venation in different taxonomic groups and with wing structure. This is illustrated for a number of orders.

Influence of Attached Masses on Impact Forces and Running Style in Heel-Toe Running

1987 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Bahlsen ◽  
Benno M. Nigg
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Impact Force ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
The Body ◽  
Additional Mass ◽  
Impact Forces ◽  
Running Shoes ◽  
High Speed Film ◽  
Vertical Impact

Impact forces analysis in heel-toe running is often used to examine the reduction of impact forces for different running shoes and/or running techniques. Body mass is reported to be a dominant predictor of vertical impact force peaks. However, it is not evident whether this finding is only true for the real body mass or whether it is also true for additional masses attached to the body (e.g., running with additional weight or heavy shoes). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of additional mass on vertical impact force peaks and running style. Nineteen subjects (9 males, 10 females) with a mean mass of 74.2 kg/56.2 kg (SD = 10.0 kg and 6.0 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. Additional masses were attached to the shoe (.05 and .1 kg), the tibia (.2, .4, .6 kg), and the hip (5.9 and 10.7 kg). Force plate measurements and high-speed film data were analyzed. In this study the vertical impact force peaks, Fzi, were not affected by additional masses, the vertical active force peaks, Fza, were only affected by additional masses greater than 6 kg, and the movement was only different in the knee angle at touchdown, ϵ0, for additional masses greater than .6 kg. The results of this study did not support findings reported earlier in the literature that body mass is a dominant predictor of external vertical impact force peaks.

Auto and Cross Correlation Measurements in a Turbine Cascade Using a Digital Correlator

1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Bryanston-Cross ◽  
J. J. Camus
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Cross Correlation ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Image Plane ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Cross Correlations ◽  
Digital Correlator

A simple technique has been developed which samples the dynamic image plane information of a schlieren system using a digital correlator. Measurements have been made in the passages and in the wakes of transonic turbine blades in a linear cascade. The wind tunnel runs continuously and has independently variable Reynolds and Mach number. As expected, strongly correlated vortices were found in the wake and trailing edge region at 50 KHz. Although these are strongly coherent we show that there is only limited cross-correlation from wake to wake over a Mach no. range M = 0.5 to 1.25 and variation of Reynolds number from 3 × 105 to 106. The trailing edge fluctuation cross correlations were extended both upstream and downstream and preliminary measurements indicate that this technique can be used to obtain information on wake velocity. The vortex frequency has also been measured over the same Mach number range for two different cascades. The results have been compared with high speed schlieren photographs.

scholarly journals Ontogeny of body size and shape of Antarctic and subantarctic fur seals

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (12) ◽  
pp. 1275-1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastián P. Luque ◽  
Edward H. Miller ◽  
John P.Y. Arnould ◽  
Magaly Chambellant ◽  
Christophe Guinet
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Size And Shape ◽  
Fur Seals ◽  
Fur Seal ◽  
Adult Body ◽  
Weaning Age ◽  
Lactation Duration

Pre- and post-weaning functional demands on body size and shape of mammals are often in conflict, especially in species where weaning involves a change of habitat. Compared with long lactations, brief lactations are expected to be associated with fast rates of development and attainment of adult traits. We describe allometry and growth for several morphological traits in two closely related fur seal species with large differences in lactation duration at a sympatric site. Longitudinal data were collected from Antarctic ( Arctocephalus gazella (Peters, 1875); 120 d lactation) and subantarctic ( Arctocephalus tropicalis (Gray, 1872); 300 d lactation) fur seals. Body mass was similar in neonates of both species, but A. gazella neonates were longer, less voluminous, and had larger foreflippers. The species were similar in rate of preweaning growth in body mass, but growth rates of linear variables were faster for A. gazella pups. Consequently, neonatal differences in body shape increased over lactation, and A. gazella pups approached adult body shape faster than did A. tropicalis pups. Our results indicate that preweaning growth is associated with significant changes in body shape, involving the acquisition of a longer, more slender body with larger foreflippers in A. gazella. These differences suggest that A. gazella pups are physically more mature at approximately 100 d of age (close to weaning age) than A. tropicalis pups of the same age.

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