Steady-State CFD Analysis of 3D Bio-inspired Flapping Wing Models

2018-07-11
Bektaş, Mürvet
Kurtuluş, Dilek Funda
Güler, Mehmet Ali
The aerodynamics of insects flying at low Reynolds numbers is considered for Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) designs. The aim of this study is to analyze different flapping wing models and to predict generated forces and vortices around the wings. The analyses are significant for understanding properties of flying animals like birds, insects and for improving MAVs more. For three insect species (namely, bumblebee, hawkmoth, and hummingbird), three dimensional (3D) wing models are numerically analyzed at different angles of attack with 10° increments from 0° to 50°. The wings have various Reynolds numbers as 1338, 5560, and 10000, respectively depending on their mean aerodynamic chord. Taking into account the computational results, the efficiencies of insect wings are determined by considering lift-to-drag ratios. The results are also compared with the studies in the literature, and Manduca Sexta wing which is a species of hawkmoth is found to be the most efficient wing model.
International Symposium on Sustainable Aviation 2018, 9-11 July 2018,

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Citation Formats
M. Bektaş, D. F. Kurtuluş, and M. A. Güler, “Steady-State CFD Analysis of 3D Bio-inspired Flapping Wing Models,” presented at the International Symposium on Sustainable Aviation 2018, 9-11 July 2018, Rome, Italy, 2018, Accessed: 00, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/70891.