Abstract
A flow visualization of the two-dimensional rigid fling-clap motions of the flat-plate wing is performed to get the knowledge of fling-clapping mechanism that might be employed by insects during flight. In this numerical visualization, the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations are solved for two types of wing motion; ‘fling followed by clap and pause motion’ and ‘cyclic fling-clapping motion’. The result is observed regarding the main flow features such as the sequential development of the two families of separation vortex pairs and their movement. For the ‘fling followed by clap and pause motion’, a strong separation vortex pair of counterrotation develops in the opening between the wings in the fling phase and they then move out from the opening in the following clap phase. For ‘the cyclic fling-clapping motion’, the separation vortex pair developed in the outside space in the clap phase move into the opening in the following fling phase. The separation vortex pair in the opening developed in the fling phase of the cyclic motion is observed to be stronger than those of the ‘fling followed by clap and pause motion’. Regarding the strong fling separation vortex and the weak clap separation vortex above it in the opening, the flow pattern of the fling phase of the cyclic fling and clap motion is different to that of the fling phase of the first cycle. The flow pattern of the third cycle of the cyclic fling-clapping motion is observed to be almost same as that of the second cycle. Therefore, a periodicity of the flow pattern is established after the second cycle.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- c:
-
chord length
- CL :
-
lift coefficient
- Re :
-
Reynolds number
- \(\overrightarrow {r,} \overrightarrow {r_{\rm{0}} } \) :
-
position vector
- Sp :
-
power expenditure coefficient
- t:
-
time
- u, v:
-
velocity component
- \(\overrightarrow {V,} \overrightarrow {V_S } \) :
-
velocity vector
- x, y:
-
coordinates
- α:
-
half-opening angle
- \(\dot \alpha \) :
-
angular velocity
- \(\bar \dot \alpha \) :
-
mean angular velocity
- ψ:
-
stream function
- ω:
-
vorticity
- \(\overrightarrow \Omega \) :
-
rotation angular velocity
References
Betts, C. R. and Wootton, R. J., Wing Shape and Flight Behavior in Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea): A Preliminary Analysis, J. Exp. Biol., 138 (1988), 271–288.
Brodsky, A. K., The Evolution of Insect Flight, (1994), 181–186, Oxford University Press.
Dickinson, M. H., Lehmann, Fritz-Olaf, and Sane, S. P., Wing Rotation and the Aerodynamic Basis of Insect Flight, Science, 284 (1999), 1954–1960.
Ellington, C. P., Van den Berg, C., Willmott, A. P. and Thomas, A. L. R., Leading edge Vortices in Insect Flight, Nature, 384 (1996), 626–630.
Maxworthy, T., Experiments on the Weis-Fogh Mechanism of Lift Generation by Insects in Hovering Flight. Part 1. Dynamics of the ‘Fling’, J. Fluid Mech., 93 (1979),47–63.
Maxworthy, T., The Fluid Dynamics of Insect Flight, Annual Review of Fluid Mech., 13 (1981), 329–350.
Ramamurti, R. and Sandberg, W. C., A Three-dimensional Computational Study of the Aerodynamic Mechanisms of Insect Flight, J. Exp. Biol., 205 (2002), 1507–1518.
Sane, S. P., The Aerodynamics of Insect Flight, J. Exp. Biol., 206 (2003), 4191–4208.
Sohn, M. H., A Numerical Study of the Weis-Fogh Mechanism, (1986–8), Ph D. Thesis, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Sohn, M. H. and Chang, J. W., Flow Visualization and Aerodynamic Load Calculation of Three Types of Clap-Fling Motions in Weis-Fogh Mechanism, J. Aerospace Science and Technology, (2006), Accepted for publication.
Sohn, M. H. and Wu, J. C., A Numerical Study of the Weis-Fogh Mechanism, AIAA Paper 87-0238, (1987).
Spedding, G. R. and Maxworthy, T., The Generation of Circulation and Lift in a Rigid Two-dimensional Fling, J Fluid Mech., 165 (1986), 247–272.
Van den Berg, C. and Ellington, C. P., The Three-dimensional Leading-edge Vortex of a Hovering Model Hawkmoth: Philosphical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, 352 (1997), 329–340.
Weis-Fogh, T., Quick Estimates of Flight Fitness in Hovering Animals Including Novel Mechanisms for Lift Production, J.Exp. Biol., 59 (1973), 169–230.
Wu, J. C., Fundamental Solutions and Numerical Methods for Flow Problems, International J. for Numerical methods inFluids, 4 (1984), 185–201.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Jo Won Chang: He received the B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from Korea Air Force Academy in 1982, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Seoul National University and KAIST in 1986 and 1999, respectively. He is currently an associate professor in the department of aeronautical science and flight operation at the Hankuk Aviation University in Korea. His research interests include unsteady aerodynamics, bio-fluid mechanics, wind tunnel experiments, and flight tests.
Myong Hwan Sohn: He received the B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from Korea Air Force Academy in 1977, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Seoul National Univ. and Georgia Institute Technology in 1981 and 1986, respectively. He is currently a professor in the department of aerospace engineering at the Korea Air Force Academy. His research interests include unsteady aerodynamics, bio-fluid mechanics, and computational fluid dynamics.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chang, J.W., Sohn, M.H. Numerical flow visualization of first cycle and cyclic motion of a rigid fling-clapping wing. J Vis 9, 381–391 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03181777
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03181777