Integrated Computational and Experimental Studies of Flapping-wing Micro Air Vehicle Aerodynamics

Abstract

Abstract : This paper describes recent research on flapping-wing micro air vehicles, based on insect-like aerodynamics. A combined analytical, experimental and CFD approach is being adopted to understand and design suitable wing aerodynamics and kinematics. The CFD has used the Fluent 6 commercial code together with the grid-generating software Gambit 2; the experiments have been conducted in air and water, using various rigs and techniques. Part of our work has used 2D CFD and linear experiments (in a water tunnel). This has revealed details on vortex stability, the role of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and Reynolds number effects. 3D CFD on rotating wings and equivalent experiments in a water tank have then been used to investigate the role of spanwise flow in the leading-edge vortex.