Dataset Information

A contralateral wing stabilizes a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust.

ABSTRACT: Previous analysis on the lateral stability of hovering insects, which reported a destabilizing roll moment due to a lateral gust, has relied on the results of a single wing without considering a presence of the contralateral wing (wing-wing interaction). Here, we investigated the presence of the contralateral wing on the aerodynamic and flight dynamic characteristics of a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust. By employing a dynamically scaled-up mechanical model and a servo-driven towing system installed in a water tank, we found that the presence of the contralateral wing plays a significant role in the lateral static stability. The contralateral wing mitigated an excessive aerodynamic force on the wing at the leeward side, thereby providing a negative roll moment to the body. Digital particle image velocimetry revealed an attenuated vortical system of the leading-edge vortex. An excessive effective angle of attack in the single wing case, which was caused by the root vortex of previous half stroke, was reduced by a downwash of the contralateral wing. The contralateral wing also relocated a neutral point in close proximity to the wing hinge points above the actual center of gravity, providing a practical static margin to a hovering hawkmoth.

SUBMITTER: Han JS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6874597 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A contralateral wing stabilizes a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust.

Han Jong-Seob JS Han Jae-Hung JH

Scientific reports 20191122 1

Previous analysis on the lateral stability of hovering insects, which reported a destabilizing roll moment due to a lateral gust, has relied on the results of a single wing without considering a presence of the contralateral wing (wing-wing interaction). Here, we investigated the presence of the contralateral wing on the aerodynamic and flight dynamic characteristics of a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust. By employing a dynamically scaled-up mechanical model and a servo-driven towing syste ...[more]

PMID: 31757991

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Project description:This study used numerical and experimental approaches to investigate the role played by the clap-and-fling mechanism in enhancing force generation in hovering insect-like two-winged flapping-wing micro air vehicle (FW-MAV). The flapping mechanism was designed to symmetrically flap wings at a high flapping amplitude of approximately 192°. The clap-and-fling mechanisms were thereby implemented at both dorsal and ventral stroke reversals. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was constructed based on three-dimensional wing kinematics to estimate the force generation, which was validated by the measured forces using a 6-axis load cell. The computed forces proved that the CFD model provided reasonable estimation with differences less than 8%, when compared with the measured forces. The measurement indicated that the clap and flings at both the stroke reversals augmented the average vertical force by 16.2% when compared with the force without the clap-and-fling effect. In the CFD simulation, the clap and flings enhanced the vertical force by 11.5% and horizontal drag force by 18.4%. The observations indicated that both the fling and the clap contributed to the augmented vertical force by 62.6% and 37.4%, respectively, and to the augmented horizontal drag force by 71.7% and 28.3%, respectively. The flow structures suggested that a strong downwash was expelled from the opening gap between the trailing edges during the fling as well as the clap at each stroke reversal. In addition to the fling phases, the influx of air into the low-pressure region between the wings from the leading edges also significantly contributed to augmentation of the vertical force. The study conducted for high Reynolds numbers also confirmed that the effect of the clap and fling was insignificant when the minimum distance between the two wings exceeded 1.2c (c = wing chord). Thus, the clap and flings were successfully implemented in the FW-MAV, and there was a significant improvement in the vertical force.

Dataset Information

A contralateral wing stabilizes a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust.

Publications

A contralateral wing stabilizes a hovering hawkmoth under a lateral gust.

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