Numerical Study on the Aerodynamic Performance of the Rigid and Corrugated Forewing of Dragonfly in Flapping Flight

Abstract

The dragonfly flapping flight as a kind of important flight model, in order to explore the aerodynamic effect on the forewing of dragonfly in flapping. Based on the real dragonfly wings(with corrugation 3D forewing), this paper uses X-flow software numerical simulation for the model, analyzed the influence of different flow velocity and frequency on the aerodynamic effect of the forewing of dragonfly. When the dragonfly flies forward stably, the results show that it has a higher lift with the increase of inflow velocity and flapping frequency. The leading edge vortex (LEV) of the dragonfly’s forewing does not fall off in a flapping period, and the maximum positive lift is generated in the downstroke. When the trailing edge vortex is strong, the peak value of thrust coefficient appears in the process of flapping, and the energy of the trailing edge vortex may provide the thrust for the dragonfly forward flight.