Recent progress in flapping wing aerodynamics and aeroelasticity

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) have the potential to revolutionize our sensing and information gathering capabilities in areas such as environmental monitoring and homeland security. Flapping wings with suitable wing kinematics, wing shapes, and flexible structures can enhance lift as well as thrust by exploiting large-scale vortical flow structures under various conditions. However, the scaling invariance of both fluid dynamics and structural dynamics as the size changes is fundamentally difficult. The focus of this review is to assess the recent progress in flapping wing aerodynamics and aeroelasticity. It is realized that a variation of the Reynolds number (wing sizing, flapping frequency, etc.) leads to a change in the leading edge vortex (LEV) and spanwise flow structures, which impacts the aerodynamic force generation. While in classical stationary wing theory, the tip vortices (TiVs) are seen as wasted energy, in flapping flight, they can interact with the LEV to enhance lift without increasing the power requirements. Surrogate modeling techniques can assess the aerodynamic outcomes between two- and three-dimensional wing. The combined effect of the TiVs, the LEV, and jet can improve the aerodynamics of a flapping wing. Regarding aeroelasticity, chordwise flexibility in the forward flight can substantially adjust the projected area normal to the flight trajectory via shape deformation, hence redistributing thrust and lift. Spanwise flexibility in the forward flight creates shape deformation from the wing root to the wing tip resulting in varied phase shift and effective angle of attack distribution along the wing span. Numerous open issues in flapping wing aerodynamics are highlighted.     

Static strength analysis of dragonfly inspired wings for biomimetic micro aerial vehicles

This article examines the suitability of fabricating artificial, dragonfly-like, wing frames from materials that are commonly used in unmanned aircraft(balsa wood, black graphite carbon fiber and red prepreg fiberglass). Wing frames made with Type 321 stainless steel are also examined for comparison. The purpose of these wings is for future use in biomimetic micro aerial vehicles(BMAV). BMAV are a new class of unmanned micro-sized aerial vehicles that mimic flying biological organisms(like flying insects). Insects, such as dragonflies, possess corrugated and complex vein structures that are difficult to mimic. Simplified dragonfly-like wing frames were fabricated from these materials and then a nano-composite film was adhered to them, which mimics the membrane of an actual dragonfly. Finite element analysis simulations were also performed and compared to experimental results. The results showed good agreement(less than 10% difference for all cases).Analysis of these results shows that stainless steel is a poor choice for this wing configuration, primarily because of the aggressive oxidation observed. Steel, as well as balsa wood, also lacks flexibility. In comparison, black graphite carbon fiber and red prepreg fiberglass offer some structural advantages, making them more suitable for consideration in future BMAV applications.     

蜻蜓起飞过程飞行特征实验

针对蜻蜓自由起飞过程和准自由起飞过程进行实验观测,采用两个光轴相互垂直的高速摄像机进行拍摄,通过特征点匹配和三维重构方法准确地捕捉了两种起飞过程中蜻蜓身体和翅膀的运动参数,并进行运动特征分析与对比。实验结果表明:蜻蜓在自由起飞过程中采用同步振翅,离地后逐步转换成异步振翅(约110°),最大瞬时竖直加速度可以达到20m/s2;在准自由起飞过程中采用异步振翅(相位差180°),之后相位差逐步降低,最大瞬时竖直加速度为12m/s2;此外发现同步振翅、大攻角下拍及大拍动角有利于升力的产生。      

Effect of an end plate on surface pressure distributions of two swept wings

A series of wind tunnel tests was conducted to examine how an end plate affects the pressure distributions of two wings with leading edge(LE) sweep angles of 23° and 40°. All the experiments were carried out at a midchord Reynolds number of 8×10~5, covering an angle of attack(AOA) range from -2° to 14°. Static pressure distribution measurements were acquired over the upper surfaces of the wings along three chordwise rows and one spanwise direction at the wing quarter-chord line. The results of the tests confirm that at a particular AOA, increasing the sweep angle causes a noticeable decrease in the upper-surface suction pressure. Furthermore, as the sweep angle increases, the development of a laminar separation bubble near the LEs of the wings takes place at higher AOAs. On the other hand, spanwise pressure measurements show that increasing the wing sweep angle results in forming a stronger vortex on the quarter-chord line which has lower sensitivity to AOA variation and remains substantially attached to the wing surface for higher AOAs than that can be achieved in the case of a lower sweep angle. In addition, data obtained indicate that installing an end plate further reinforces the spanwise flow over the wing surface, thus affecting the pressure distribution.     

可差动扭转扑翼飞行器的设计和风洞试验研究

常规的仿鸟扑翼飞行器在飞行时机翼只是单纯地上下扑动。为提高扑翼飞行器横航向和航迹控制的品质,设计了一种机翼在扑动的同时可差动扭转的仿鸟扑翼飞行器;在低速风洞中对其进行了一系列测力试验,研究了可差动扭转扑翼飞行器的升力、推力特性,以及机翼差动扭转角、扑动频率、风速、机翼柔性对滚转力矩系数的影响;对设计的扑翼飞行器做了飞行试验,验证了设计的可行性,并与常规扑翼飞行器作了对比,试验结果表明：可差动扭转扑翼可以用于扑翼飞行器的横向控制,并且可以提高其抗风能力和航迹控制精度。     

三维仿生悬停扑翼的时间非对称扑动气动特性

基于对现有黄蜂飞行观察实验的分析,建立了不同下扑和上挥时间非对称扑动悬停扑翼运动轨迹模型,并采用数值求解三维层流Navier-Stokes(N-S)方程的方法,研究了采用不同下扑和上挥时间比的仿生悬停扑翼气动特性.结果表明采用适当的时间非对称扑动可以增强悬停扑翼的气动性能.进一步通过对不同时间非对称扑动扑翼流场分析得出,采用时间非对称扑动不但可以增强使扑翼产生高升力的旋转环流机制,而且还可以增强扑翼表面涡流和展向流的强度,从而使扑翼具有更好的气动性能.      

The thrust and lift of an ornithopter's membrane wings with simple flapping motion

Human beings flying with the help of aircrafts of various kinds have been able to fly for about one century. Although the flapping wings of animals served as an inspiration to pioneers of human flight, we don't really understand how they work. In this study, we employ the concept of four-bar linkage to design a flapping mechanism which simulates a flapping motion of a bird. Wind tunnel tests were performed to measure the lift and thrust of the mechanical membrane flapping wing under different frequency, speed, and angle of attack. It is observed that the flexibility of the wing structure will affect the thrust and lift force due to its deformation at high flapping frequency. The lift force will increase with the increase of the flapping frequency under the corresponding flying speed. For the same flapping frequency, the flying speed can be increased by decrease of the angle of attack with the trade of loosing some lift force. An angle of attack is necessary in a simple flapping motion in order to derive a lift force. The flapping motion generates the thrust to acquire the flying speed. The flying speed and angle of attack combine to generate the lift force for flying.     

基于PD控制的仿昆虫扑翼样机研制

仿昆虫微型扑翼飞行器（FW-MAN）可以模仿昆虫悬停、垂直起飞以及侧飞等飞行姿态,从而适应复杂多障碍环境,具有广阔的应用前景。成功设计研制了一款重23.8 g,翼展18 cm,扑动幅值180°,扑动频率可达22 Hz的可垂直起飞的仿昆虫微型扑翼飞行器。采用曲柄摇杆与滑轮的组合机构作为样机扑动机构以解决原有样机扑动方案存在高摩擦及结构复杂等问题,样机翅翼设计为具有扭转角度的柔性翅翼从而使样机具有更高的气动效率。考虑到现有的姿态调节机制存在增加机构复杂度问题,基于翅翼扭转的姿态调节机制,设计了相应的控制调节机构,并搭建了样机气动力测量平台和姿态调节平台。气动升力与姿态力矩测量结果表明,样机翅翼可提供足够升力,姿态调节机制具有可行性。在此基础上,选取PD （Proportional Differential）控制律作为样机控制方式,为解决参数调定耗时及直接试飞样机不易观察控制效果问题,基于姿态调节平台获取了初始控制参数,然后对样机进行了多次试飞实验,并多次调定参数,最终实现了样机稳定垂直起飞。     

基于空间RURS机构的三维仿生扑翼机构设计与分析

为实现仿昆虫翼尖的空间“8”字型运动轨迹,设计了一种基于空间revolute-universal-revolute-spherical(RURS)四杆机构的扑翼机构,通过单自由度驱动即可输出三维的空间“8”字轨迹。运用Denavit-Hartenberg参数法建立了空间四杆机构的运动学模型,利用遗传算法对机构进行了优化,得到了利于扑翼飞行的机构参数。基于该空间四杆机构的优化结果,建立了一种微型的扑翼机构虚拟样机,通过ADAMS仿真得到其输出运动并验证了运动学理论计算的正确性。所设计的扑翼机构扑动幅度达到149.8°,扭转角度达到29.9°,且“8”字型扑动规律与昆虫翅膀的运动更为相近。扑翼机构的最大尺寸不超过5.8cm,仿真发现的时间非对称扑动对气动性能有一定提升,对于微型化、轻质化、高效化扑翼飞行器的研究具有重要的参考价值。      

Realization of an optimized wing camber by using formvariable flap structures

According to market research predictions, a large growth in the number of passengers as well as airfreight volume can be expected for the civil transport aircraft industry. This will lead to an increased competition between aircraft manufacturers. To stay competitive it will be essential to improve the efficiency of new generation of aircraft. Transonic wings of civil aircraft with their fixed geometry offer an especially large potential for improvement. Such fixed geometry wings are optimized for only one design point, characterized by the following parameters: altitude, mach number and aircraft weight. Since these vary permanently during the mission of the aircraft the wing geometry is rarely optimal. As aerodynamic investigations have shown, one possibility to compensate for this major disadvantage lies in the chordwise and spanwise differential variation of the wing camber for mission duration. This paper describes the design of a flexible flap system for an adaptive wing to be used in civil transport aircraft that allows both a chordwise as well as a spanwise differential camber variation during flight. Since both lower and upper skins are flexed by active ribs, the camber variation is achieved with a smooth contour and without any additional gaps. This approach for varying the wing's camber is designed to be used for replacement and enhancement of a given flap system. In addition, the kinematics of the rib structure allows for adaptation of the profile contour to different types of aerodynamic and geometric requirements.