Abstract:

High lift mechanisms and power requirements for forward flight in a small insect were studied using the method of computational fluid dynamics. The Navier Stokes equations were solved numerically. The solution provided the flow velocity and pressure fields, from which the vorticity wake structure and the unsteady aerodynamic forces and moments were obtained (the inertial torques due to the acceleration of the wing mass were computed analytically). From the flow structure and force information, insights into the unsteady aerodynamic force generation were gained.

Key words: insect, unsteady aerodynamics, power requirement, computational fluid dynamics