Distributed feather-inspired flow control mitigates stall and expands flight envelope.

ABSTRACT: Multiple rows of feathers, known as the covert feathers, contour the upper and lower surfaces of bird wings. These feathers have been observed to deploy passively during high angle of attack maneuvers and are suggested to play an aerodynamic role. However, there have been limited attempts to capture their underlying flow physics or assess the function of multiple covert rows. Here, we first identify two flow control mechanisms associated with a single covert-inspired flap and their location sensitivity: a pressure dam mechanism and a previously unidentified shear layer interaction mechanism. We then investigate the additivity of these mechanisms by deploying multiple rows of flaps. We find that aerodynamic benefits conferred by the shear layer interaction are additive, whereas benefits con

SUBMITTER: Sedky G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11551407 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature