Influences of flapping modes and wing kinematics on aerodynamic performance of insect hovering flight

Abstract

A numerical investigation into the effects of flapping modes on the aerodynamic performance of insect hovering flight is carried out through the solution of the two-dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. Four types of idealized flapping modes with the identical quasi-steady lift force are compared, and the influences of the Reynolds number (Re), the translational duration and the rotational duration on the aerodynamic characteristics of the hovering are systematically analyzed flight. It is found that the instantaneous aerodynamic forces of the wing differ significantly in each flapping mode. The mode with harmonic translation and harmonic rotation leading the highest lifting efficiency is suitable for long-time flight while the mode with harmonic translation and trapezoid rotation giving the largest instantaneous forces is suitable for maneuvering flight. When Re increases from 100 to 1000, the lift force and lifting efficiency of the wing are increased significantly with the increasing Re first, and then slow down with the further increase in Re. In addition, the fast-translational mode with short translational duration will reduce the time-averaged lift force and the efficiency, whereas the fastrotational mode with short rotational duration can enhance the time-averaged lift force with the sustained efficiency.