Aerodynamic efficiency of a bioinspired flapping wing rotor at low Reynolds number.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the aerodynamic efficiency of a bioinspired flapping wing rotor kinematics which combines an active vertical flapping motion and a passive horizontal rotation induced by aerodynamic thrust. The aerodynamic efficiencies for producing both vertical lift and horizontal thrust of the wing are obtained using a quasi-steady aerodynamic model and two-dimensional (2D) CFD analysis at Reynolds number of 2500. The calculated efficiency data show that both efficiencies (propulsive efficiency-η_p, and efficiency for producing lift-P_f ) of the wing are optimized at Strouhal number (St) between 0.1 and 0.5 for a range of wing pitch angles (upstroke angle of attack α_u less than 45°); the St for high P_f

SUBMITTER: Li H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5882673 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature