Abstract
During a dive peregrine falcons can reach velocities of more than 320 km/h and makes themselves the fastest animals in the world. The aerodynamic mechanisms involved are not fully understood yet and the search for a conclusive answer to this fact motivates the three-dimensional (3-D) flow study. Especially the cupped wing configuration which is a unique feature of the wing shape in falcon peregrine dive is our focus herein. In particular, the flow in the gap between the main body and the cupped wing is studied to understand how this flow interacts with the body and to what extend it affects the integral forces of lift and drag. Characteristic shapes of the wings while diving are studied with regard to their aerodynamics using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The results of the numerical simulations via ICEM CFD and OpenFOAM show predominant flow structures around the body surface and in the wake of the falcon model such as a pair of body vortices and tip vortices. The drag for the cupped wing profile is reduced in relation to the configuration of opened wings (without cupped-like profile) while lift is increased. The purpose of this study is primarily the basic research of the aerodynamic mechanisms during the falcon’s diving flight. The results could be important for maintaining good maneuverability at high speeds in the aviation sector.
Highlights
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is one of the world’s fastest birds
Dam Wall Diving Flights of Real Falcons The numerical simulation in this study is based on the specific diving flight condition which is gained from a previous study by [18]
This study investigated in detail the aerodynamics of steady flight conditions of a peregrine falcon in dive motion
Summary
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is one of the world’s fastest birds. During horizontal flight, it reaches velocities of up to 150 km/h ([1] [2]) and even more than 320 km/h when nose-diving to attack its bird prey (e.g. [3]-[10]). Most bird species can alter the shape of their wings and they can change their aerodynamic properties [11] [12], a concept known as “morphing wing” [13]. (2014) Aerodynamics of the Cupped Wings during Peregrine Falcon’s Diving Flight. At top velocities (up to at least 320 km/h) peregrines build a wrap dive vacuum pack, i.e. the wings are completely folded against the elongated body [17]. During courtship behavior they often change their flight path at the end of a dive, i.e. they turn from a vertical dive into a steep climb. This suggests that peregrines are exposed to high mechanical loads
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