The influence of flight style on the aerodynamic properties of avian wings as fixed lifting surfaces.

ABSTRACT: The diversity of wing morphologies in birds reflects their variety of flight styles and the associated aerodynamic and inertial requirements. Although the aerodynamics underlying wing morphology can be informed by aeronautical research, important differences exist between planes and birds. In particular, birds operate at lower, transitional Reynolds numbers than do most aircraft. To date, few quantitative studies have investigated the aerodynamic performance of avian wings as fixed lifting surfaces and none have focused upon the differences between wings from different flight style groups. Dried wings from 10 bird species representing three distinct flight style groups were mounted on a force/torque sensor within a wind tunnel in order to test the hypothesis that wing morphologies associat

SUBMITTER: Lees JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5075716 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature