Numerical and Experimental Analysis of 3D Micro-Corrugated Wing in Gliding Flight

Abstract

In this study, computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed on a three-dimensional model of a Libellulidae wing to determine aerodynamic performance in gliding flight. The wing is comprised of various corrugated features alongside the spanwise and chordwise directions, as well as twist. The detailed features of real 3D dragonfly wing models, including all the corrugations through both span and chord, have not been considered in the past for a detailed aerodynamic analysis. The simulations were conducted by solving the Navier-Stokes equations to demonstrate gliding performance over a range of angles of attack at low Reynolds numbers. The numerical model was validated against experimental data obtained from a fabricated corrugated wing model using particle image velocimetry. The numerical results demonstrate that bio-inspired wings with corrugations compared to flat profile wings generate more lift with lower drag, trapping the vortices in the valleys of wing corrugation leading to delayed flow separation and delayed stall. The experimental and numerical results demonstrate that the methodology presented in this study can be used to measure bio-inspired 3D wing flow characteristics, including the influence of complex corrugations on aerodynamic performance. These findings contribute to the advancement of knowledge required for designing an optimized bioinspired micro air vehicle.

A Year at the Forefront of Gliding Locomotion

“…However, these insights have been garnered mostly using 2D models of the cross-section of the wing, which do not capture substantial variation in wing corrugation across the insect wingspan. Chitsaz and colleagues used a combination of CFD and PIV on a complete 3D dragonfly ( Orthetrum caledonicum ) wing model to show the entrapment of vortices in the valleys of wing corrugation and, in doing so, provide an illustrative example of how to analyze flow characteristics in other corrugated wing designs ( Chitsaz et al, 2022 ). Along with corrugation, insects such as dragonflies and damselflies also feature tandem wings, with both a fore- and hindwing.…”

“…Advancements in 3D scanning and photogrammetry have allowed more accurate representations of the animal's gliding apparatus, consequently leading to more biologically relevant physical interpretations using CFD and numeric simulations. Pan and colleagues and Chitsaz and colleagues show examples of new insights on aerodynamics of gliding in dragonflies and damselflies that were gained through more accurate representations of the wing structure and their glide behavior ( Pan et al, 2022 ; Chitsaz et al, 2022 ).…”