Experimental investigation of the effect of flapping on the lift and thrust forces of 3D-wing

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Aerospace Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Effects of flapping on lift and thrust forces in a 3D flapping wing have been investigated at low Reynolds numbers and several reduced frequencies, using experimental tests in a subsonic wind tunnel. Tests have been performed at Reynolds numbers 42000 to 170000 and reduced frequencies 0 to 0.45 that most birds flight at this ranges. Also, the ranges of the angle of attacks are between 0°-24°. Results have shown that an increase of reduced frequency can enhance the lift force by up to 100 percent and in some cases reduce drag force to zero. Furthermore, increment of reduced frequency has caused a delay in stall of the wing. Also by increasing the Reynolds number from 42000 to 86000, the major region of the boundary layer of the wing surface becomes turbulent, so maximum lift force increases by 40 percent. Wind tunnel test results show that the effect of reduced frequency on the lift force was dependent on the angle of attack, so at the lower attack angles, the increase of reduced frequency did not affect the lift coefficient, but, with increment in the angle of attack, the positive effect of the reduced frequency on the coefficient of the lift force increased.

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References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 53, Issue 3 (Special Issue)
June 2021
Pages 1697-1708

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