Effect of skin flexibility on aerodynamic performance of flexible skin flapping wings for micro air vehicles

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2015 · Experimental Techniques

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/EXT.12004· OSTI ID:22777074

Yusoff, H.; Abdul Mujeebu, M. ^[1]; Ahmad, K. A. ^[2]

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1. Putra University, Malaysia (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Department of Aerospace Engineering (Malaysia)
2. Anjuman Institute of Technology and Management, Department of Mechanical Engineering (India)

As part of the ongoing research on micro air vehicles, the present work focuses on the effect of membrane flexibility on the aerodynamic performance of flexible latex flapping wings. Wings with membrane thicknesses 0.37, 0.28, and 0.13 mm are chosen, which are named as least flexible (A), flexible (B), and most flexible (C), respectively. The experiments are performed in an air chamber of size 1.5 m × 1.5 m × 1.5 m, facilitated with wind velocities up to 15 m/s. The time-averaged lift and drag as functions of flapping frequency, forward flight velocity, the angles of attack (AoA), and advance ratio (J). The novel electronic control system developed previously is used to monitor and measure the flapping frequency. It is found that the effect of flexibility on the aerodynamic performance mainly depends on the range of flight speed; at 7200 ≤ Re ≤ 18,000, the lift and drag increase with increase of flexibility, and at 18,000 ≤ Re ≤ 25,200, the lift decreases and drag increases with increase of flexibility. Hence latex compliant (Wing C) wings are advantageous in the low Re range, while the least flexible wing (Wing A) is preferable for higher range.

• OSTI ID: 22777074
• Journal Information: Experimental Techniques, Journal Name: Experimental Techniques Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 39; ISSN 0732-8818; ISSN EXPTD2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
AERODYNAMICS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DRAG
FLEXIBILITY
LATEX
MEMBRANES
MONITORS
PERFORMANCE
THICKNESS
UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
VELOCITY