Lift, drag and flow-field measurements around a small ornithopter
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
- NMSU
The aerodynamics of a flight-worthy, radio controlled ornithopter is investigated using a combination of Particle-Image Velocimetry (PIV), load cell measurements, and high-speed photography of smoke visualizations. The lift and thrust forces of the ornithopter are measured at various flow speeds, flapping frequencies and angles of attack to characterize the flight performance. These direct force measurements are then compared with forces estimated using control volume analysis on PIV data. High-speed photography of smoke streaks is used to visualize the evolution of leading edge vortices, and to qualitatively infer the effect of wing deformation on the net downwash. Vortical structures in the wake are compared to previous studies on root flapping, and direct measurements of flapping efficiency are used to argue that the current ornithopter operates sub-optimally in converting the input energy into propulsive work.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 1046551
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-11-00238; LA-UR-11-238; TRN: US201215%%512
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 49th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting ; January 4, 2011 ; Orlando, FL
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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