Abstract
This article examines the suitability of two different materials which are black graphite carbon fiber and red pre-impregnated fiberglass from which to fabricate artificial dragonfly wing frames. These wings could be of use in Biomimetic Micro Aerial Vehicles (BMAV). BMAV are a new class of unmanned micro-sized air vehicles that mimic flying biological organisms. Insects, such as dragonflies, possess corrugated and complex vein structures that are difficult to mimic. Simplified dragonfly wing frames were fabricated from these materials and then a nano-composite film was adhered to them, which mimics the membrane of an actual dragonfly. Experimental analysis of these results showed that although black graphite carbon fiber and red pre-impregnated fiberglass offer some structural advantages, red pre-impregnated fiberglass was a less preferred option due to its warpage and shrinking effects. Black graphite carbon fiber with its high load bearing capability is a more suitable choice for consideration in future BMAV applications.
Highlights
Biomimetic micro air vehicle (BMAV) is a micro-scaled aircraft that mimics the flapping wing motion of insects or small birds (e.g.: dragonfly and hummingbirds)
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA 97-29) in 1997, defining micro air vehicles to be less than 15 cm in any dimension
Very little has been written about the BMAV wing frame structures that encase the membrane.In this article we describe a novel methodology of fabricating BMAV wings using two different materials as the frame structure which is black graphite carbon fiber, and red prepreg fiberglass
Summary
2005, DARPA defined nano air vehicles (BAA 06-06) as being no larger than 7.5 cm or heavier than 10 g (carrying a 2 g payload). Very little has been written about the BMAV wing frame structures that encase the membrane.In this article we describe a novel methodology of fabricating BMAV wings (based on the DiplacodesBipunctata dragonfly) using two different materials as the frame structure which is black graphite carbon fiber, and red prepreg fiberglass. A simplified model of this wing was created using spatial network analysis taking the pattern density into account. This is described in detail in another article written by the authors of this work [6].Wing membrane was formed by immersing the structures in a chitosan nano-composite suspension, with chitin whiskers as a physical reinforcement and tannic acid as the crosslinking agent, using the casting evaporation method [7]. Tensile and bending test measurements were conducted on these frame structures and the results were observed
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