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Journal ArticleDOI

Formation of Bifurcated Wakes Behind Finite Span Flapping Wings

23 Jul 2013-AIAA Journal (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics)-Vol. 51, Iss: 8, pp 2040-2044
TL;DR: In this article, the Strouhal number was used to measure the angle of the airfoil and initial pitch angle, respectively, for a single wing with a single chord.
Abstract: Nomenclature C = chord length, m C T = thrust coefficient f = flapping frequency, Hz h tip = plunge amplitude at the wing tip, m k = ωC∕U ∞ , reduced frequency l span = wingspan, m Re = U ∞ C∕ν, Reynolds number r z = z-directional distance away from the wing tip, m S wing = wing area, m 2 St = fh tip ∕U ∞ , Strouhal number U ∞ = freestream velocity, m∕s ν = kinematic viscosity of fluid, m 2 ∕s α, α 0 = pitch angle of the airfoil and initial pitch angle, respectively, deg ϕ, ϕ 0 = phase angle and initial phase angle, respectively, rad ω = angular frequency, rad∕s ω z = spanwise (z direction) vorticity
Citations
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01 Jan 2002
TL;DR: In this article, the three-dimensional structure of the flow behind a heaving and pitching finite-span wing is investigated using dye flow visualization at a Reynolds number of 164, which is a variation of the Strouhal number, pitch amplitude and heave/pitch phase angle.
Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of the flow behind a heaving and pitching finite-span wing is investigated using dye flow visualization at a Reynolds number of 164. Phase-locked image sequences, which are obtained from two orthogonal views, are combined to create a set of composite images that give an overall sense of the three-dimensional structure of the flow. A model of the vortex system behind the wing is constructed from the image sequences. Variations of the Strouhal number, pitch amplitude and heave/pitch phase angle are qualitatively shown to affect the structure of the wake.

179 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2007

63 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a model for biologically inspired dynamic morphing wings is proposed and numerical simulations of the low-Reynolds number flows around the flapping morphing wing are conducted in a parametric space by using the immersed boundary method.
Abstract: Dynamically stretching and retracting wingspan has been widely observed in the flight of birds and bats, and its effects on the aerodynamic performance particularly lift generation are intriguing. The rectangular flat-plate flapping wing with a sinusoidally stretching and retracting wingspan is proposed as a simple model for biologically inspired dynamic morphing wings. Numerical simulations of the low-Reynolds-number flows around the flapping morphing wing are conducted in a parametric space by using the immersed boundary method. It is found that the instantaneous and time-averaged lift coefficients of the wing can be significantly enhanced by dynamically changing wingspan in a flapping cycle. The lift enhancement is caused by both changing the lifting surface area and manipulating the flow structures responsible to the vortex lift generation. The physical mechanisms behind the lift enhancement are explored by examining the three-dimensional flow structures around the flapping wing.

42 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the simple lift decomposition of a flat plate and a rectangular wing at low-Reynolds-number flows is compared with the general force decomposition based on the fully resolved two-and three-dimensional unsteady velocity fields and the planar velocity fields at several spanwise locations in simulated particle-image-velocimetry measurements.
Abstract: Different lift decompositions into the elemental terms are compared based on direct numerical simulations of a flapping flat plate and a flapping rectangular wing at low-Reynolds-number flows. The simple lift formula is given as a useful approximate form that has the vortex force and local acceleration terms. The accuracy of the simple lift formula in lift estimation is quantitatively evaluated in comparison with the general force formulas based on the fully resolved two- and three-dimensional unsteady velocity fields and the planar velocity fields at several spanwise locations in simulated particle-image-velocimetry measurements. In addition, the mathematical connections between the different force formulas are discussed.

20 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the evolution of vortex structures over flapping NACA0012 foils in shear flows and the corresponding aerodynamic performance are numerically studied using a two dimensional (2D) high-order accurate spectral difference Navier-Stokes flow solver, and further analyzed using the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method and vortex theory.

15 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a definition of vortex in an incompressible flow in terms of the eigenvalues of the symmetric tensor, which captures the pressure minimum in a plane perpendicular to the vortex axis at high Reynolds numbers, and also accurately defines vortex cores at low Reynolds numbers.
Abstract: Considerable confusion surrounds the longstanding question of what constitutes a vortex, especially in a turbulent flow. This question, frequently misunderstood as academic, has recently acquired particular significance since coherent structures (CS) in turbulent flows are now commonly regarded as vortices. An objective definition of a vortex should permit the use of vortex dynamics concepts to educe CS, to explain formation and evolutionary dynamics of CS, to explore the role of CS in turbulence phenomena, and to develop viable turbulence models and control strategies for turbulence phenomena. We propose a definition of a vortex in an incompressible flow in terms of the eigenvalues of the symmetric tensor ${\bm {\cal S}}^2 + {\bm \Omega}^2$ are respectively the symmetric and antisymmetric parts of the velocity gradient tensor ${\bm \Delta}{\bm u}$. This definition captures the pressure minimum in a plane perpendicular to the vortex axis at high Reynolds numbers, and also accurately defines vortex cores at low Reynolds numbers, unlike a pressure-minimum criterion. We compare our definition with prior schemes/definitions using exact and numerical solutions of the Euler and Navier–Stokes equations for a variety of laminar and turbulent flows. In contrast to definitions based on the positive second invariant of ${\bm \Delta}{\bm u}$ or the complex eigenvalues of ${\bm \Delta}{\bm u}$, our definition accurately identifies the vortex core in flows where the vortex geometry is intuitively clear.

5,837 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper extends a discontinuous finite element discretization originally considered for hyperbolic systems such as the Euler equations to the case of the Navier?Stokes equations by treating the viscous terms with a mixed formulation, and finds the method is ideally suited to compute high-order accurate solution of theNavier?

1,750 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the phase angle between transverse oscillation and angular motion is the critical parameter affecting the interaction of leading-edge and trailing-edge vorticity, as well as the efficiency of propulsion.
Abstract: Thrust-producing harmonically oscillating foils are studied through force and power measurements, as well as visualization data, to classify the principal characteristics of the flow around and in the wake of the foil. Visualization data are obtained using digital particle image velocimetry at Reynolds number 1100, and force and power data are measured at Reynolds number 40 000. The experimental results are compared with theoretical predictions of linear and nonlinear inviscid theory and it is found that agreement between theory and experiment is good over a certain parametric range, when the wake consists of an array of alternating vortices and either very weak or no leading-edge vortices form. High propulsive efficiency, as high as 87%, is measured experimentally under conditions of optimal wake formation. Visualization results elucidate the basic mechanisms involved and show that conditions of high efficiency are associated with the formation on alternating sides of the foil of a moderately strong leading-edge vortex per half-cycle, which is convected downstream and interacts with trailing-edge vorticity, resulting eventually in the formation of a reverse Karman street. The phase angle between transverse oscillation and angular motion is the critical parameter affecting the interaction of leading-edge and trailing-edge vorticity, as well as the efficiency of propulsion.

1,209 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A simple technique is adopted which ensures metric cancellation and thus ensures freestream preservation even on highly distorted curvilinear meshes, and metric cancellation is guaranteed regardless of the manner in which grid speeds are defined.

950 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of the recent progress in flapping wing aerodynamics and aeroelasticity is presented, where it is realized that a variation of the Reynolds number (wing sizing, flapping frequency, etc.) leads to a change in the leading edge vortex (LEV) and spanwise flow structures, which impacts the aerodynamic force generation.

877 citations


"Formation of Bifurcated Wakes Behin..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…= chord length, m CT = thrust coefficient f = flapping frequency, Hz htip = plunge amplitude at the wing tip, m k = ωC∕U∞, reduced frequency lspan = wingspan, m Re = U∞C∕ν, Reynolds number rz = z-directional distance away from the wing tip, m Swing = wing area, m 2 St = fhtip∕U∞,…...

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