Abstract Flapping wings deform under both aerodynamic and inertial forces. However, many flapping wing fluid–structure interaction (FSI) models require significant computational resources which limit their effectiveness for high-dimensional parametric studies. Here, we present a simple bilaterally coupled FSI model for a wing subject to single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) flapping. The model is reduced-order and can be solved several orders of magnitude faster than direct computational methods. To verify the model experimentally, we construct a SDOF rotation stage and measure basal strain of a flapping wing in-air and in-vacuum. Overall, the derived model estimates wing strain with good accuracy. In-vacuum, the wing has a large 3ω response when flapping at approximately one-third of its natural frequency due to a superharmonic resonance, where the superharmonic occurs due to the interaction of inertial forces and time-varying centrifugal softening. In-air, this 3ω response is attenuated significantly as a result of aerodynamic damping, whereas the primary ω response is increased due to aerodynamic loading. These results highlight the importance of (1) bilateral coupling between the fluid and structure, since unilaterally coupled approaches do not adequately describe deformation-induced aerodynamic damping and (2) time-varying stiffness, which generates superharmonics of the flapping frequency in the wing’s dynamic response. The simple SDOF model and experimental study presented in this work demonstrate the potential for a reduced-order FSI model that considers both bilateral fluid–structure coupling and realistic multi-degrees-of-freedom flapping kinematics moving forward.
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Analysis of passive flexion in propelling a plunging plate using a torsion spring model
We mimic a flapping wing through a fluid–structure interaction (FSI) framework based upon a generalized lumped-torsional flexibility model. The developed fluid and structural solvers together determine the aerodynamic forces, wing deformation and self-propelled motion. A phenomenological solution to the linear single-spring structural dynamics equation is established to help offer insight and validate the computations under the limit of small deformation. The cruising velocity and power requirements are evaluated by varying the flapping Reynolds number ( $20\leqslant Re_{f}\leqslant 100$ ), stiffness (represented by frequency ratio, $1\lesssim \unicode[STIX]{x1D714}^{\ast }\leqslant 10$ ) and the ratio of aerodynamic to structural inertia forces (represented by a dimensionless parameter $\unicode[STIX]{x1D713}$ ( $0.1\leqslant \unicode[STIX]{x1D713}\leqslant 3$ )). For structural inertia dominated flows ( $\unicode[STIX]{x1D713}\ll 1$ ), pitching and plunging are shown to always remain in phase ( $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}\approx 0$ ) with the maximum wing deformation occurring at the end of the stroke. When aerodynamics dominates ( $\unicode[STIX]{x1D713}>1$ ), a large phase difference is induced ( $\unicode[STIX]{x1D719}\approx \unicode[STIX]{x03C0}/2$ ) and the maximum deformation occurs at mid-stroke. Lattice Boltzmann simulations show that there is an optimal $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}^{\ast }$ at which cruising velocity is maximized and the location of optimum shifts away from unit frequency ratio ( $\unicode[STIX]{x1D714}^{\ast }=1$ ) as $\unicode[STIX]{x1D713}$ increases. Furthermore, aerodynamics administered deformations exhibit better performance than those governed by structural inertia, quantified in terms of distance travelled per unit work input. Closer examination reveals that although maximum thrust transpires at unit frequency ratio, it is not transformed into the highest cruising velocity. Rather, the maximum velocity occurs at the condition when the relative tip displacement ${\approx}\,0.3$ .
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- Award ID(s):
- 1761618
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10321248
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Fluid Mechanics
- Volume:
- 857
- ISSN:
- 0022-1120
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Flapping insect wings experience appreciable deformation due to aerodynamic and inertial forces. This deformation is believed to benefit the insect’s aerodynamic force production as well as energetic efficiency. However, the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models used to estimate wing deformations are often computationally demanding and are therefore challenged by parametric studies. Here, we develop a simple FSI model of a flapping wing idealized as a two-dimensional pitching-plunging airfoil. Using the Lagrangian formulation, we derive the reduced-order structural framework governing wing’s elastic deformation. We consider two fluid models: quasi-steady Deformable Blade Element Theory (DBET) and Unsteady Vortex Lattice Method (UVLM). DBET is computationally economical but does not provide insight into the flow structure surrounding the wing, whereas UVLM approximates flows but requires more time to solve. For simple flapping kinematics, DBET and UVLM produce similar estimates of the aerodynamic force normal to the surface of a rigid wing. More importantly, when the wing is permitted to deform, DBET and UVLM agree well in predicting wingtip deflection and aerodynamic normal force. The most notable difference between the model predictions is a roughly 20° phase difference in normal force. DBET estimates wing deformation and force production approximately 15 times faster than UVLM for the parameters considered, and both models solve in under a minute when considering 15 flapping periods. Moving forward, we will benchmark both low-order models with respect to high fidelity computational fluid dynamics coupled to finite element analysis, and assess the agreement between DBET and UVLM over a broader range of flapping kinematics.
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2018.736
