Biomechanical aspects of the insect wing: an analysis using the finite element method

Kesel, Antonia B.; Philippi, Ute; Nachtigall, Werner

doi:10.1016/s0010-4825(98)00018-3

Cited by 143 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Combes and Daniel [13][14][15] also used a Poisson's ratio of 0.49 and tested the effects of using a Poisson's ratio of 0.3 and found the effect to be negligible. In our analysis we took the material stiffness of the wing (Young's modulus, E) constant throughout the wing for both the veins and membranes, similar to Smith [10] and Kesel et al [11]. We further took an average vein stiffness of 6 GPa [12], and for the membrane stiffness we took a value of 3.75 GPa [24].…”

Section: Dragonfly Wing Materials Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Counter-intuitively the corrugated wings of insects provide good aerodynamic performance at low Reynolds numbers [5][6][7][8][9], while providing good structural strength and stiffness [6]. Numerical analyses of insect wings have been performed by Smith [10], Kesel et al [11], Herbert et al [12], Combes and Daniel [13][14][15] and Wootton et al [16] to better understand the structural function of insect wings under different loading regimes. Smith [10] performed a modal analysis of a quasi-two-dimensional finite element model (FEM) of the fore-and hindwing of a moth, to correlate the distribution of mass and stiffness.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Smith [10] performed a modal analysis of a quasi-two-dimensional finite element model (FEM) of the fore-and hindwing of a moth, to correlate the distribution of mass and stiffness. Kesel et al [11] increased model fidelity to study structural stabilization of dragonfly wings by vein corrugation. Herbert et al [12] numerically explored the mechanisms that lead to the umbrella effect, a mechanism of camber generation in the hindwing fans of orthopteroid and dictyopteroid insects, as described by Wootton [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural Analysis of a Dragonfly Wing

2010

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Dragonfly wings are highly corrugated, which increases the stiffness and strength of the wing significantly, and results in a lightweight structure with good aerodynamic performance. How insect wings carry aerodynamic and inertial loads, and how the resonant frequency of the flapping wings is tuned for carrying these loads, is however not fully understood. To study this we made a three-dimensional scan of a dragonfly (Sympetrum vulgatum) fore-and hindwing with a micro-CT scanner. The scans contain the complete venation pattern including thickness variations throughout both wings. We subsequently approximated the forewing architecture with an efficient three-dimensional beam and shell model. We then determined the wing's natural vibration modes and the wing deformation resulting from analytical estimates of 8 load cases containing aerodynamic and inertial loads (using the finite element solver Abaqus). Based on our computations we find that the inertial loads are 1.5 to 3 times higher than aerodynamic pressure loads. We further find that wing deformation is smaller during the downstroke than during the upstroke, due to structural asymmetry. The natural vibration mode analysis revealed that the structural natural frequency of a dragonfly wing in vacuum is 154 Hz, which is approximately 4.8 times higher than the natural flapping frequency of dragonflies in hovering flight (32.3 Hz). This insight in the structural properties of dragonfly wings could inspire the design of more effective wings for insectsized flapping micro air vehicles: The passive shape of aeroelastically tailored wings inspired by dragonflies can in principle be designed more precisely compared to sail like wings -which can make the dragonfly-like wings more aerodynamically effective.

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Section: Dragonfly Wing Materials Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Structural Analysis of a Dragonfly Wing

2010

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“…Collective materials Defense swarming Japanese honeybees [574] Material-like swarm Honeybees [573] Magnetic orientation Termites [631] Tree nesting Weaver ants [653] Water active properties Designed wettability Desert beetle [161] Hydrophobic surface Planthopper, [155] mosquitos, [157] green bottle fly [160] Thin flexible membranes Locomotion Locomotive method Mayflies [654] Wing design Bumblebees, [102][103][104][105] dragonflies [94,106,107,112] Mechanosensation Subgenual organs Ground wetas [248,249] Tympanum Cicadas [235] Sound production Tymbal sound production Tiger moths, [269] cicadas [254,266] Thermoregulation Thermosensing Dark-pigmented butterflies [393,655] Water active properties Hydrophobic surface Mosquitos [178] Water-active behavior Termites [177,656] Chemical/other Chemical sensing and defense…”

Section: Physical Adhesive Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cuticle is venated by branching hollow tubes of varying diameters and wall thicknesses, with elliptical, circular, or bell-shaped cross sections to impart axialdependent bending stiffness. [93][94][95] Generally, veins are larger in diameter and have thicker walls near the wing base where stresses are great, then taper moving out toward the wingtips to reduce inertial forces. [96] Those veins spanning the leading edge of the wing are largest and carry oxygen, fluids, and neuronal connections.…”

Section: Insect Wing Morphology and Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature: Functional Materials in Insects

2018

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Over the course of their wildly successful proliferation across the earth, the insects as a taxon have evolved enviable adaptations to their diverse habitats, which include adhesives, locomotor systems, hydrophobic surfaces, and sensors and actuators that transduce mechanical, acoustic, optical, thermal, and chemical signals. Insect‐inspired designs currently appear in a range of contexts, including antireflective coatings, optical displays, and computing algorithms. However, as over one million distinct and highly specialized species of insects have colonized nearly all habitable regions on the planet, they still provide a largely untapped pool of unique problem‐solving strategies. With the intent of providing materials scientists and engineers with a muse for the next generation of bioinspired materials, here, a selection of some of the most spectacular adaptations that insects have evolved is assembled and organized by function. The insects presented display dazzling optical properties as a result of natural photonic crystals, precise hierarchical patterns that span length scales from nanometers to millimeters, and formidable defense mechanisms that deploy an arsenal of chemical weaponry. Successful mimicry of these adaptations may facilitate technological solutions to as wide a range of problems as they solve in the insects that originated them.

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Materials, Structure, and Dynamics of Insect Wings as Bioinspiration forMAVs

Combes

2010

Encyclopedia of Aerospace Engineering

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Insect wings are complex, deformable structures that change shape dynamically during flight. Muscles are restricted to the wing base – thus, shape changes are largely passive, determined by the interaction between the wing's architecture and the aerodynamic and inertial forces associated with flapping flight. Because insect wing structure reflects numerous evolutionary trade‐offs and constraints, no single wing represents the “optimal” design for flight, but particular features may enhance certain aspects of flapping flight performance. Wings are primarily composed of tubular supporting veins and deformable membranes, with diverse material and structural properties. Venation pattern and planform shape vary widely, and wings display three‐dimensional corrugation, camber, and twist. Specialized features such as flexion lines, one‐way hinges, patches of rubber‐like protein, and inertial balancers contribute to patterns of wing deformation during flight. Spatial variation in mechanical properties and “smart” structures promote and control dynamic camber generation, transverse bending, and torsional waves. The effects of wing structure and dynamic shape changes on unsteady aerodynamic force production remain unknown, and their exploration requires the development of novel experimental tools.

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Biomechanical aspects of the insect wing: an analysis using the finite element method

Cited by 143 publications

References 11 publications

Structural Analysis of a Dragonfly Wing

Structural Analysis of a Dragonfly Wing

It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature: Functional Materials in Insects

Materials, Structure, and Dynamics of Insect Wings as Bioinspiration forMAVs

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