The Influence of Wing Kinematic Pattern of Biplane Flapping Wings on The Production of Aerodynamic Forces

Abstract

The aerodynamics of flapping wing micro air vehicle (FMAV) is significantly affected by the wing kinematics, primarily by the wing flapping and pitching. Designing the patterns of wing kinematics is an effective way to modulate the lift and thrust. This paper aims to investigate the aerodynamic effects of different combinations of flapping and pitching wings of biplane FMAV. We conducted three numerical simulations on biplane flapping wings using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Overset mesh technique was employed to improve the computational efficiency. Numerical simulation results showed that the thrust directly benefits from wing pitching, which also influences the lift. Explanation of this phenomenon was discussed. This work is highlighted by the insights into asymmetric wings pitching and the effects of it on the aerodynamic performance.