Computational fluid dynamics of flapping wings

• Main Author: Chin, Yao Wei.
• Other Authors: Jorg Uwe Schluter
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering::Aerodynamics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40584
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The following final year project presents the computational fluid dynamics simulation of flapping mechanism using the commercial software, FLUENT. It is of the interest to seek understanding of how natural flyers could generate sufficient lift for carrying its own weight during flapping flight. An overview of basic flapping aerodynamics is given at first before examining the computational approach in FLUENT to simulate air flow around an obstacle. Simulations of vortex shedding from stationary cylinder are carried out at Reynolds number of 20, 40, and 80 to look into the role of vortices in lift generation. The project then continues with simulation of an oscillating cylinder at Re =10000 to model the plunging motion during flapping flights at different frequencies. Lastly, simulations of a pitching plate at Reynolds number of 21000 is carried out for different turbulence model to examine the lift generation mechanism by rotational motion when the wings pitch during flapping flight.