Near-wall topological patterns and flow structures over a simplified Danaus plexippus model

Abstract

Studies on the high-lift mechanisms of butterfly gliding flights shed light on the design of the micro air vehicles. The flow field around a simplified Danaus plexippus model is investigated using the hydrogen bubble visualization and the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques. There are three near-wall topological patterns with different Angles of Attack (AoAs): the separation bubble, the Leading-Edge Vortex (LEV) and the high AoAs flow. For the separation bubble pattern, two saddles and two foci form in the middle of the model. The features of the LEV pattern are the leading-edge separation lines. The topological characteristics of the separation lines are changed by the interaction between the LEV and the Wing-Tip Vortex (WTV). For the high AoAs flow pattern, four unstable foci are found at the forewing and the hindwing respectively. The angle between the trajectory of the WTV and the model increases with increasing AoA even though the slope of the WTV angle versus AoA curve declines at the moderate AoAs.