Highly deformable flapping membrane wings suppress the leading edge vortex in hover to perform better.

ABSTRACT: Airborne insects generate a leading edge vortex when they flap their wings. This coherent vortex is a low-pressure region that enhances the lift of flapping wings compared to fixed wings. Insect wings are thin membranes strengthened by a system of veins that does not allow large wing deformations. Bat wings are thin compliant skin membranes stretched between their limbs, hand, and body that show larger deformations during flapping wing flight. This study examines the role of the leading edge vortex on highly deformable membrane wings that passively change shape under fluid dynamic loading maintaining a positive camber throughout the hover cycle. Our experiments reveal that unsteady wing deformations suppress the formation of a coherent leading edge vortex as flexibility increases. At lift

SUBMITTER: Gehrke A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11831160 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature