Towing Tank Experiments for Flapping-Wing Aerodynamics

Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Jong-Wan Lee ◽  
Jae-Hung Han

This paper presents an empirical approach for flapping-wing aerodynamics using a servo-driven towing tank and a dynamically scale-up robotic manipulator. Time-varying aerodynamic force and moment were measured, and digital particle image velocimetry in multiple cross-sections were conducted. Three case studies showed that the towing tank experiment could be an effective way to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics in detail, which are difficult to be predicted by other conventional approaches. The force and moment measurements clarified that an advance ratio has significant role in governing the LEV behavior and consequent aerodynamic performance of flapping wings. Results for moving sideways showed the effects of the wing-wing and wing-body interaction, and the usefulness of the towing tank experiments for analyzing the flight dynamic characteristics. It was also shown that the towing tank experiments can be applicable to realistic wing motions; test results using the wing kinematics of a living insect in forward flight were well compatible with the trim condition of the insect.

Author(s):  
Reynolds Addo-Akoto ◽  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Jae-Hung Han

Abstract In this paper, the effect of wing aspect ratio and kinematics on wing-wake interaction at Re∼104, which matched the flight regime of flapping-wing micro air vehicle (FWMAV), was investigated. The dynamically scaled-up robotic model submerged in a water tank environment revealed that the wing-wake interaction augmented lift across a decrease in both aspect ratio and wing pitching duration. At such high Re, a time-course digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) measurement showed the entire flow was strongly dominated by trailing-edge vortices (TEV). A pair of counter-rotating TEV was found to induce a jetlike flow towards the windward side of the wing at stroke reversal. The transfer of momentum from the accelerated flow to the wing caused the enhanced lift. The size of the pair vortex decreased for an increase in both aspect ratio and wing pitching duration. The size of the TEV pair was the key feature found to generate the observed aerodynamic force characteristics.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
YeongGyun Ryu

An experimental study on flapping wing flexibility in hovering flight has been conducted to investigate the wing flexibility for insect-inspired flapping Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs). Hawkmoth-like wing models, derived from Manduca sexta, were made of Polycarbonate (PC) sheet with a spanwise length of 200 mm and an aspect ratio of 6.18. For the distributions of wing flexibility, the wing thickness was selected as the design variable: rigid wing (3 mm-thick) and flexible wings (2, 1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.35, 0.2, and 0.1 mm-thick). In the experiment, the wing models were constrained to the symmetrical and sinusoidal flapping motions with sweeping and rotating amplitudes of 120° and 90° in water tank with size of 3.5 m×1.0 m×1.1 m. Aerodynamic force and flow structures for flapping the wing were measured using a six-axis force/torque sensor and a high speed camera with a laser using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV). To compare the flow structures of flexible wings with rigid wing, they were captured at the same chordwise cross-section as the rigid wing, 50% of wing length. Based on the experimental results, vortices and aerodynamic force. Consequently, the wing with thickness of 0.8 mm has better aerodynamic characteristics than other wings in hovering flight. This finding will be instrumental in identifying the range of wing flexibilities that improves the aerodynamic efficiency for the development of insect-inspired flapping MAVs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Wenqing Yang ◽  
Jianlin Xuan ◽  
Bifeng Song

A flexible flapping wing with a rectangular planform was designed to investigate the influence of flexible deformation. This planform is more convenient and easier to define and analyzed its deforming properties in the direction of spanwise and chordwise. The flapping wings were created from carbon fiber skeleton and polyester membrane with similar size to medium birds. Their flexibility of deformations was tested using a pair of high-speed cameras, and the 3D deformations were reconstructed using the digital image correlation technology. To obtain the relationship between the flexible deformation and aerodynamic forces, a force/torque sensor with 6 components was used to test the corresponding aerodynamic forces. Experimental results indicated that the flexible deformations demonstrate apparent cyclic features, in accordance with the flapping cyclic movements. The deformations in spanwise and chordwise are coupled together; a change of chordwise rib stiffness can cause more change in spanwise deformation. A certain lag in phase was observed between the deformation and the flapping movements. This was because the deformation was caused by both the aerodynamic force and the inertial force. The stiffness had a significant effect on the deformation, which in turn, affected the aerodynamic and power characteristics. In the scope of this study, the wing with medium stiffness consumed the least power. The purpose of this research is to explore some fundamental characteristics, as well as the experimental setup is described in detail, which is helpful to understand the basic aerodynamic characteristics of flapping wings. The results of this study can provide an inspiration to further understand and design flapping-wing micro air vehicles with better performance.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
YeongGyun Ryu

An experimental study on flapping wing flexibility in hovering flight has been conducted to investigate the wing flexibility for insect-inspired flapping Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs). Hawkmoth-like wing models, derived from Manduca sexta, were made of Polycarbonate (PC) sheet with a spanwise length of 200 mm and an aspect ratio of 6.18. For the distributions of wing flexibility, the wing thickness was selected as the design variable: rigid wing (3 mm-thick) and flexible wings (2, 1, 0.8, 0.5, 0.35, 0.2, and 0.1 mm-thick). In the experiment, the wing models were constrained to the symmetrical and sinusoidal flapping motions with sweeping and rotating amplitudes of 120° and 90° in water tank with size of 3.5 m×1.0 m×1.1 m. Aerodynamic force and flow structures for flapping the wing were measured using a six-axis force/torque sensor and a high speed camera with a laser using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV). To compare the flow structures of flexible wings with rigid wing, they were captured at the same chordwise cross-section as the rigid wing, 50% of wing length. Based on the experimental results, vortices and aerodynamic force. Consequently, the wing with thickness of 0.8 mm has better aerodynamic characteristics than other wings in hovering flight. This finding will be instrumental in identifying the range of wing flexibilities that improves the aerodynamic efficiency for the development of insect-inspired flapping MAVs.


Author(s):  
Jong-Seob Han ◽  
Jae-Hung Han

In this paper, aerodynamic characteristics of two flapping wings in clap-and-fling motion at Re of ∼104, which corresponds to the flight regime of flapping-wing micro air vehicles, was investigated. The test employing dynamically scaled-up robotic arms installed on a water tank revealed that the wingbeat motion at such high Re in1duced the fully developed wake within two wingbeat cycles. This wake widely influenced the lift production covering the entire wingbeat period; the wings earned the additional lift during the entire downstroke, and lost the lift during the upstroke. Chordwise cross-sectional DPIV showed the massive downwash with enlarged tip vortices, when the wake was fully developed. The wake blew down the headwind and reduced the effective angles of attack. In the case of the clap-and-fling motion, the wake was leaned toward the dorsal part, in which the wings created the clap-and-fling motion, causing the global fluctuation of the aerodynamic force production.


2015 ◽  
Vol 783 ◽  
pp. 323-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Nakata ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
Richard J. Bomphrey

Aerodynamic performance and agility during flapping flight are determined by the combination of wing shape and kinematics. The degree of morphological and kinematic optimization is unknown and depends upon a large parameter space. Aimed at providing an accurate and computationally inexpensive modelling tool for flapping-wing aerodynamics, we propose a novel CFD (computational fluid dynamics)-informed quasi-steady model (CIQSM), which assumes that the aerodynamic forces on a flapping wing can be decomposed into quasi-steady forces and parameterized based on CFD results. Using least-squares fitting, we determine a set of proportional coefficients for the quasi-steady model relating wing kinematics to instantaneous aerodynamic force and torque; we calculate power as the product of quasi-steady torques and angular velocity. With the quasi-steady model fully and independently parameterized on the basis of high-fidelity CFD modelling, it is capable of predicting flapping-wing aerodynamic forces and power more accurately than the conventional blade element model (BEM) does. The improvement can be attributed to, for instance, taking into account the effects of the induced downwash and the wing tip vortex on the force generation and power consumption. Our model is validated by comparing the aerodynamics of a CFD model and the present quasi-steady model using the example case of a hovering hawkmoth. This demonstrates that the CIQSM outperforms the conventional BEM while remaining computationally cheap, and hence can be an effective tool for revealing the mechanisms of optimization and control of kinematics and morphology in flapping-wing flight for both bio-flyers and unmanned aerial systems.


Author(s):  
Wei Shyy ◽  
Hikaru Aono ◽  
Chang-kwon Kang ◽  
Hao Liu

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iskendar Iskendar ◽  
Andi Jamaludin ◽  
Paulus Indiyono

This paper describes hydrodynamic model tests of Wing in Surface Effect (WiSE) Craft. These craft  was fitted with  stephull  form in different location on longitudinal flat bottom (stepedhull planning craft) to determine the influences of sticking and porpoising motion performances. These motions are usually occured when the craft start to take-off from water surfaces. The test models with scale of 1 : 7 were comprised of 4 (four) stephull models and 1 (one) non-stephull model  as a comparative study. The hydrodynamic  tests were performed with craft speed of 16 – 32 knots (prototype values) in Towing Tank at UPT. Balai Pengkajian dan Penelitian Hidrodinamika (BPPH), BPPT, Surabaya. The resistance (drag) was measured by dynamo meter and the trim of model (draft changing at fore and aft  of model due to model speed) was measured by trim meter. By knowing the value of model trim, the wetted surface area can be determined. Then, the lift forces were calculated based on these measured values. The model test results were presented on tables and curves.  Test results show that models  with step located far away from center of gravity of the WiSE craft tend to porpoising and sticking condition, except if the step location on the below of these center of gravity. While model without step tends to sticking conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mujdeci ◽  
D. V. Bompa ◽  
A. Y. Elghazouli

AbstractThis paper describes an experimental investigation into confinement effects provided by circular tubular sections to rubberised concrete materials under combined loading. The tests include specimens with 0%, 30% and 60% rubber replacement of mineral aggregates by volume. After describing the experimental arrangements and specimen details, the results of bending and eccentric compression tests are presented, together with complementary axial compression tests on stub-column samples. Tests on hollow steel specimens are also included for comparison purposes. Particular focus is given to assessing the confinement effects in the infill concrete as well as their influence on the axial–bending cross-section strength interaction. The results show that whilst the capacity is reduced with the increase in the rubber replacement ratio, an enhanced confinement action is obtained for high rubber content concrete compared with conventional materials. Test measurements by means of digital image correlation techniques show that the confinement in axial compression and the neutral axis position under combined loading depend on the rubber content. Analytical procedures for determining the capacity of rubberised concrete infilled cross-sections are also considered based on the test results as well as those from a collated database and then compared with available recommendations. Rubber content-dependent modification factors are proposed to provide more realistic representations of the axial and flexural cross-section capacities. The test results and observations are used, in conjunction with a number of analytical assessments, to highlight the main parameters influencing the behaviour and to propose simplified expressions for determining the cross-section strength under combined compression and bending.


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