On the Aerodynamic Performance of Flapping Wing Model Based on Three Steering Gears
基于三路舵机驱动的扑翼飞行模型气动特性研究

The unsteady aerodynamic phenomenon caused by flapping is the main factor to provide high lift for flapping flight. Taking hawkmoth's wing from Ellington experiment as the original model, authors designed the model for flapping wing experiment and numerical simulation. The pressure measurement on the upper flapping wing surface was operated at some special positions by pressure difference transducer to analyze the leading edge vortex (LEV) generation and shedding (considering the dynamic pressure effect). Then, the pressure difference on upper and lower flapping wing surfaces were measured at some special positions through the same pressure difference transducer to explore the main factor of high lift production. The flow structure and vortices developments were also observed in the low speed smoke wind tunnel. The mean lift of the flapping robot in a flapping cycle was estimated according to the lift estimation equation from Ellington. Finally, based on 3D Euler equations, the numerical simulation of this flapping robot is conducted to explore its aerodynamic performance. Numerical simulation results show a reasonable agreement with experimental results.