Unsteady flow mechanisms revisited in insect flapping flight

doi:10.6052/0459-1879-2005-3-2004-137

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Article Navigation > Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics > 2005 > 37(3): 257-265

Unsteady flow mechanisms revisited in insect flapping flight[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2005, 37(3): 257-265. doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-2005-3-2004-137

Citation:

Unsteady flow mechanisms revisited in insect flapping flight[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2005, 37(3): 257-265. doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-2005-3-2004-137

Unsteady flow mechanisms revisited in insect flapping flight[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2005, 37(3): 257-265. doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-2005-3-2004-137

Citation:

Unsteady flow mechanisms revisited in insect flapping flight[J]. Chinese Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, 2005, 37(3): 257-265. doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-2005-3-2004-137

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Unsteady flow mechanisms revisited in insect flapping flight

doi: 10.6052/0459-1879-2005-3-2004-137

北京,中科院研究生院物理系,100039

Publish Date: 2005-05-18

Abstract

Abstract

The unsteady flow mechanisms of insect flapping flight arerevisited with the theoretical modeling approach proposed. Accordingto analysis of the flapping motion in insect hovering flight, it is revealedthat, limitations of the aerodynamic lift at low Reynolds numbers may bereleased by the highly unsteady condition in insect wing flapping, in whichcase the controlling parameter is the Strouhal number (St \gg 1/Re).Furthermore,in the present theoretical modeling study, three factors have been found inlift generation and regulation: (1) the remarkable instantaneous addedinertial effect is excited by the high unsteadiness of wing flapping; (2)keeping the leading edge vortex on the upper wing surface can avoid liftdecreasing; (3) enhancing the strength of the trailing edge vortex andaccelerating its shedding can produce high lift.
- flapping wing,unsteady flow,mechanism,theoretical modeling