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Abstract
Human pursuit of flight has learnt many lessons from nature and a few adaptations have led to phenomenal progress. Insect flight uses complex unsteady aerodynamics to generate lift in addition to producing thrust. A close look at the dragonfly provides some clues to mimic its flight using passive means by separating propulsion and lifting mechanisms. Though the dragonfly can independently flap each of its wings to generate lift and thrust, during forward flight, fore-wings alone flap while the aft-wings remain nearly steady. We adopt this as basis for new passive configurations to generate steady lift. Conceptually, we replace fore-wings with a cylinder that is known to shed vortices, to mimic flapping. A simple plate replaces the aft-wings. Flow analysis of such a configuration at Reynolds Number of 7500 revealed a steady flow topology featuring a trapped vortex over the plate, resulting in steady lift to drag ratio of 3. A further optimized configuration consisting of a semi-circular cylinder upstream and a cambered plate downstream resulted in lift to drag ratio of 14.5, which is considerable for these flow regimes, opening up new possibilities for design of nano-flight vehicles.
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Article Details
References
- Baburajan, T., "Fascinating World of Insects", Krab Media and Marketing, Bangalore, India, August 2015.
- Somps, C and Luttges, M., "Dragon Flight: Novel Uses of Unsteady Separated Flows", Science, Vol.228, No.4795, 14 June 1985, pp.1236-1239.
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- Wang, H., Zeng, L., Liu, H. and Yin, V.C., "Measuring Wing Kinematics, Flight Trajectory and Body Attitude During Forward Flight and Turning Maneuvers in Dragonflies", J. Exp Biol, Vol.206, pp.745757, 2003.
- Hu, Z., McCauley, R., Schaeffer, S. and Deng, X., "Aerodynamics of Dragonfly Flight and Robotic Design", IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Kobe, Japan, May12-17, 2009.
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- Thomas, A. L. R., Taylor, G. K., Srygley, R. B., Nuidds, R. L. and Bomphrey, R. J., "Dragonfly Flight: Free-Flight and Tethered Flow Visualizations Reveal a Diverse Array of Unsteady-Lift Generating Mechanisms, Controlled Primarily via Angle of attack", J. Exp. Biology, 207, pp.4299-4923, 2004.
- Yates, G. T., Somps, C. and Luttges, M., "Dragonfly Aerodynamics", Science, New Series, Vol.231, No.4733, 3rd January 1986, p.10.
- Roshko, A., "On the Wake and Drag of Bluff Bodies", J. Royal Aeronautical Sciences, February 1955, pp.124-132.
- Zdravkovich, M. M., "Review and Classification of Various Aerodynamic Means for Suppressing Vortex Shedding", J. Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol.7, pp.145-189, 1981.
- Bernistas, M. M., Raghavan, K., Simon, Y. B. and Garcia, E. M., "VIVACE: A New Concept on Generation of Clean and Renewable Energy from Fluid Flow", J. Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, Vol.130, Issue 4, September 2008.
- Peng, J., Fu, X. and Chen, Y., "Flow Measurement by a New Type of Vortex Flowmeter of Dual Triangulate Bluff Body", J. Sensors and Actuators, A115, pp.53-59, 2004.
- Ringleb, F. O., "Separation Control by Trapped Vortices", In: Boundary Layer and Flow Control, Ed.G.
- V. Lachman, Pergamon Press, 1961.
- Kasper, W., "Aircraft Wing with Lift Generation", US Patent 3831885A, 1974.
- Kasper, W. A., "Some Ideas of Vortex Lift", Soc. Automotive Engineers, Paper 790547.
- http://www.ekip-aviation-concern.com/
- Raffaele, S. D., Fabrizio, D. G. and , Pierluigi, I., "Flow Separation Control by Trapped Vortex", 48th
- AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA 2010- 1409, 4-7 January 2010, Orlando, USA.
- Sedda, S., Sardu, C., Lasagna, D., Iuso, G., Raffaele S. Donelli and Gregorio, F. D., "Trapped Vortex Cell for Aeronautical Applications: Flow Analysis Through PIV and Wavelet Transform Tools", Symposium on Flow Visualization and Image Processing, Naples, Italy, 15-18 June, 2015.
References
Baburajan, T., "Fascinating World of Insects", Krab Media and Marketing, Bangalore, India, August 2015.
Somps, C and Luttges, M., "Dragon Flight: Novel Uses of Unsteady Separated Flows", Science, Vol.228, No.4795, 14 June 1985, pp.1236-1239.
Reavis, M.A. and Luttges, M., "Paper No. 88-0330, AIAA 26th Aerospace Sciences Meeting, 11-14 January 1988, Reno, Nevada, USA.
Azuma, A. and Watanabe, T., "Flight performance of a Dragonfly", J. Exp. Biol, Vol.137, pp.221-252, 1988.
Wang, H., Zeng, L., Liu, H. and Yin, V.C., "Measuring Wing Kinematics, Flight Trajectory and Body Attitude During Forward Flight and Turning Maneuvers in Dragonflies", J. Exp Biol, Vol.206, pp.745757, 2003.
Hu, Z., McCauley, R., Schaeffer, S. and Deng, X., "Aerodynamics of Dragonfly Flight and Robotic Design", IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Kobe, Japan, May12-17, 2009.
Mehdi, H., Lakhera, B. J. and Kamboj., "Numerical Analysis of Steady and Unsteady Flow for Dragonfly Wing Section in Gliding Mode", International Journal of Advanced Mechanical Engineering, ISSN 2250-3234 Vol.4, No.4, pp.365-370, 2014.
Thomas, A. L. R., Taylor, G. K., Srygley, R. B., Nuidds, R. L. and Bomphrey, R. J., "Dragonfly Flight: Free-Flight and Tethered Flow Visualizations Reveal a Diverse Array of Unsteady-Lift Generating Mechanisms, Controlled Primarily via Angle of attack", J. Exp. Biology, 207, pp.4299-4923, 2004.
Yates, G. T., Somps, C. and Luttges, M., "Dragonfly Aerodynamics", Science, New Series, Vol.231, No.4733, 3rd January 1986, p.10.
Roshko, A., "On the Wake and Drag of Bluff Bodies", J. Royal Aeronautical Sciences, February 1955, pp.124-132.
Zdravkovich, M. M., "Review and Classification of Various Aerodynamic Means for Suppressing Vortex Shedding", J. Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol.7, pp.145-189, 1981.
Bernistas, M. M., Raghavan, K., Simon, Y. B. and Garcia, E. M., "VIVACE: A New Concept on Generation of Clean and Renewable Energy from Fluid Flow", J. Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, Vol.130, Issue 4, September 2008.
Peng, J., Fu, X. and Chen, Y., "Flow Measurement by a New Type of Vortex Flowmeter of Dual Triangulate Bluff Body", J. Sensors and Actuators, A115, pp.53-59, 2004.
Ringleb, F. O., "Separation Control by Trapped Vortices", In: Boundary Layer and Flow Control, Ed.G.
V. Lachman, Pergamon Press, 1961.
Kasper, W., "Aircraft Wing with Lift Generation", US Patent 3831885A, 1974.
Kasper, W. A., "Some Ideas of Vortex Lift", Soc. Automotive Engineers, Paper 790547.
http://www.ekip-aviation-concern.com/
Raffaele, S. D., Fabrizio, D. G. and , Pierluigi, I., "Flow Separation Control by Trapped Vortex", 48th
AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, AIAA 2010- 1409, 4-7 January 2010, Orlando, USA.
Sedda, S., Sardu, C., Lasagna, D., Iuso, G., Raffaele S. Donelli and Gregorio, F. D., "Trapped Vortex Cell for Aeronautical Applications: Flow Analysis Through PIV and Wavelet Transform Tools", Symposium on Flow Visualization and Image Processing, Naples, Italy, 15-18 June, 2015.