Computational and Experimental Investigation of Flapping-Wing Propulsion

Flapping-wing propulsion is studied experimentally and numerically. The objective of the research is to provide further insight into the aerodynamics of flapping-wing air vehicles. Experimental work is conducted in the NPS 1.5 m x 1.5 m (5 ft x 5 ft) in-draft wind tunnel. A previously constructed long-span flapping-wing model suspended by cables is used to approximate the two-dimensional nature of the numerical simulation. For this experiment, the model is configured with two wings executing plunge-only motion. Thrust is indirectly determined by using a laser rangefinder to measure streamwise displacement of the model. Results are compared with previous experimental tests. A numerical analysis is conducted using USPOT, a locally developed unsteady panel code that models two independently moving airfoils with three degrees of freedom and non-linear deforming wakes. Thrust and efficiencies are computed for harmonically oscillating airfoils. Direct comparison is made between experimental and numerical thrust measurements.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'Computational and Experimental Investigation of Flapping-Wing Propulsion', published 2000 under ISBN 9781423537472 and ISBN 1423537475.